By Helge Schutz

Copyright namibian

African Stars will launch their African Champions League campaign when they take on Ugandan champions Vipers SC in a first leg qualifying round match in Cape Town, South Africa tomorrow evening.

It is the third consecutive year that Stars will compete in the top continental tournament, but after two previous exits at the preliminary stage, they are now hoping to reach the group stage for the first time.

They, however, face a very difficult journey just to make it to the group stages, with the aggregate winner of their match against Vipers taking on the aggregate winner between Zambian league champions Power Dynamos and the Ivory Coast league runners-up Asec Mimosa, in the second qualifying round.

With Namibian stadiums still out of bounds to host international Confederation of African Football (CAF) matches, Stars’ ‘home match’ has now been relocated to the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, with the match due to start at 18h00 tomorrow night.

The Stars squad already arrived in Cape Town last Saturday and after a light training session on Sunday, they beat the Cape-based youth club Shosholoza FC 8-0 in a practise match on Sunday.

Stars coach Bob Mafoso, however, said that the score was irrelevant.

“We were happy with our organisation, especially in defence, but the intensity and resistance we received was nothing close to what we can expect against Vipers,” he said.

“In terms of preparations, only the matches against AS Mamiema and Petro Atletico de Luanda were really up to standard and provided the intensity that we can expect against Vipers,” he added.

Stars hosted Maniema of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Petro Atletico of Angola in an international tournament last month losing 1-0 to both, while they beat Young African 1-0 and Bucs Buccaneers 4-0 in subsequent warm-up matches.

They have also been bolstered by several new signings, including the South African winger Jaylen Trent who represented Stellenbosch u23 in the DStv Diski Challenge; defender Tino Guiseb of Tuks University; goalkeeper Michael James and national midfielder Lawrence Doeseb, both of Eeshoke Chula Chula; and national defender Tuli Nashixwa from Tigers.

In attack they have been bolstered by the arrival of national winger Wendell Rudath from Botswana Premier League side Jwaneng Galaxy; Zambian striker Emmanuel Kalala from Zambian Super League side Mutondo Stars, and Ghanaian striker Mohammed Aminu from Ghana Premier League side Bechem United.

Mafoso said he was happy with their preparations.

“Wendell Rudath is still injured so he is not in the squad, but we are very lucky we got the players we wanted in terms of quality. I’d say about 80% of the squad is injury free, so I am happy with how our preparations have gone,” he said.

Against Shosholoza, Doeseb scored a brace and Trent and Kulula one goal each, while their other scorers were Godwin Eiseb (two), Gianluca Kahingunga and Turipamwe Mbongora.

Besides them, their squad is a fine mix of youth and experience with exciting newcomers like Kahingunga, Vevengapi Mbuende, Edmar Kamatuka and Jackson Eliakim vying for places alongside experienced campaigners like Charles Hambira, Ronald Ketjijere and Vitapi Ngaruka.

Mafoso said he expected a strong challenge from Vipers.

“They compete in the Champions League just about every season and they regularly win the Ugandan league. In general Ugandan players are known for their athleticism and they are runners, so they will be tough opponents,” he said.

“Four or five of their players haven’t played in the pre-season yet, and they also have a new coach, so they are a bit of a closed book. But the draw could have been worse and I’d say it’s quite open and anyone can win – we must just work on our finer details,” he added.

The return leg match will take place at St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Uganda on 27 September.