Namibia’s CAF Champions League bound African Stars have expressed confidence about winning their friendly match against Township Rollers tomorrow at the Maun Sports Complex despite the latter’s win against Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
Rollers walloped Chiefs 1-0 through second half substitute, Thabo Rakhale who is also the former Orlando Pirates skipper in the 79th minute.
The win has however not shaken the Stars’ boys who also won 4-1 against Masitaoka on Saturday and also hammered the Orange FA Cup champions Gaborone United 3-0 on Sunday in their pre-season practice matches.
“We won against the best teams in Botswana so far, so things are looking good and we hope for a firmer test against Rollers over the weekend,” Stars Executive Director Salomo Hei told Times Sport.
Hei noted that the friendly matches will help in preparing for their opening match of the Champion’s League game against Zimbabwe’s Power Dynamos in the 1st Preliminary round. The win for them will see them proceed to the 2nd preliminary where they will play against Simba Soccer Club of Tanzania.
Okaserandu, as affectionately called, have signed two strikers from Ghana and Nigeria as well as a midfielder from Nigeria to beef up their squad for the 2023/24 season and the CAF competitions. They signed Michael Okolo, a midfielder from Lobi Stars FC, Odiwoh Ernest, a striker from Nzema Kotoko FC and Alyu Ibrahim, a striker from Dakkada FC.
Meanwhile, Township Rollers spokesperson Pako Lebanna have also assured of their readiness for tomorrow’s match noting that the boys were motivated by their win against Chiefs on Saturday.
“We are ready for tomorrow’s friendly match and what I can say is that people should come in large numbers to support us as we prepare the team for the new season. We are also hopeful that our new signings will adapt well as soon as possible to help the team going forward,” he told this publication.
Lebanna believes that the new signings will boost their squad highlighting that the new man, Thabo Rakhale has shown that indeed the team signed quality therefore they expect the same character and display in tomorrow’s encounter.
Though he acknowledged that African Stars who are Champions in their native country is a good team. The spokesperson emphasized that Popa Popa is also a big brand therefore assuring that they will fight for their pride come Saturday.
In their match against Chiefs on Saturday the blues were without some of their key players including the likes of Segolame Boy, and Mogakolodi Ngele due to medical issues but the two will be available for tomorrow’s game. The team’s new signings Simphamandla Sangweni and Edwin Moalosi are also likely to be available. Tickets are sold at P40 at all stands.
