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WE WANT ANOTHER CAF STAR – ÉTOILE COACH

15/07/2018 11:10:00 BY SANELE JELE

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SIKHUPHE – Their mission for a second CAF Champions League means they are looking beyond Mbabane Swallows.

Tunisia’s Étoile du Sahel touched down on Swazi soil yesterday through the KMIII International Airport at Sikhuphe at around 5pm. They brought a 20-man team which is without two of their stars who formed part of their national team in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018. This could sound as good news to their Eswatini opponents on Tuesday, Mbabane Swallows, who are also having a share of their own problems in their camp. Etoile’s coach Lili Chiheb sounded very adamant at a press briefing at the airport that their 2007 Champions League triumph would see them meet their target to add another star to their kit. “We can do it again and nothing can stop us from doing that. We know that Mbabane Swallows have skilful and fast players. We also know they did not get this far by fluke and that means they are a good side but we want to add another star to our kit,” said the former Al-Jazira coach, basically meaning they were here to win.

The coach, who joined the 2007 CAF Champions League winners last month, said despite being minus two of their key players in Ramy Bedoui and Amin Be Amin, he was confident of the 20-man squad they have brought. “We had to leave Bedoui and Amin because they were with the national team in the World Cup so they need time to rest but in the next game, they will be part of the squad. However, I do trust all my players. They will go all out there for a win,” he added. He further highlighted that while their main target was to win the tournament, their main task was to deal with Swallows first. “We need not be carried away. We have this group stages to win and once we are done with this phase, we can plan properly on how we can win the tournament. It is possible to win it and my team is ready,” he added. Efforts to get comment from the captain, Cherititi Aniwe, proved futile as the coach said his players were tired after a 17-hour flight.

Meanwhile, Mbabane Swallows coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati, when interviewed during a media day on Wednesday, said he was ready for the Tunisian side despite having internal challenges. The Tunisian side used a chartered aeroplane from Tunisia. They were welcomed Mbabane Swallows official in Dumezweni Dlamini and Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs’ Foreman Dlamini. The North African side has been booked at Lugogo Sun. They will do their first training at Waterford Sports Ground today and on Monday, they will do their training at Mavuso Sports Centre. Mbabane Swallows will face the Group D log leaders on Tuesday at Mavuso Sports Centre at 3pm in the first leg of the Total sponsored tournament.