Audio By Carbonatix
There could be two teams called Chelsea competing at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan this year if a side from Ghana continue to slay CAF Champions League giants.
Berekum Chelsea host Cairo-based Zamalek this weekend in matchday one of the leading African club championship hoping to go all the way and join shock UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea at the December tournament.
Dutch coach Hans van der Pluijm hopes some of the amazing spirit that saw the Stamford Bridge outfit score twice with ten men in a semi-final against Barcelona at the Camp Nou can rub off on his squad.
But he also acknowledges that his young team will begin as Group A outsiders against three of the most successful clubs in CAF competitions - Zamalek, fellow Egyptians Al Ahly and TP Mazembe from Congo DR.
Ahly have won the CAF Champions League a record six times, Zamalek five times and 2010 FIFA Club World Cup runners-up Mazembe four times. The trio share the tag of favourites this year along with title holders Esperance of Tunisia.
"They are all former champions and we have a lot of respect for them, but we all got to this stage on merit and so we will see how it goes from now on," Van der Pluijm said. "My boys must believe in themselves, they must believe that nothing is impossible no matter how strong the opposition appears to be, and they must not let anyone push them around.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
NDC highlights first year achievements, vows to stabilise economy and strengthen governance
8 minutes -
Ghana’s performance broadly satisfactory; faces downside risks to economy – IMF
18 minutes -
Cybercrime crackdown: 48 suspects arrested in Dawhenya operation
22 minutes -
Any further easing of policy rate should remain gradual and data dependent – IMF to BoG
26 minutes -
ICU-Ghana boss urges gov’t to translate economic gains into better living standards for workers
31 minutes -
BoG rolls out new directives on documentations needed for cross border trading
41 minutes -
Interior Minister pledges government support to strengthen security services
52 minutes -
GoldBod exceeds 2025 small-scale gold export target, earns over $10bn
54 minutes -
Brazil’s Supreme Court allows Bolsonaro to leave prison for surgery
54 minutes -
Abu Trica, two co-accused denied bail in cybercrime and money laundering case
56 minutes -
Government’s indebtedness to SSNIT reduces Trust investment earnings, jeopardize ability to pay future pensions – World Bank
1 hour -
English limits national progress — Asante Professionals Club pushes for use of local languages
2 hours -
Australian man charged after endorsing Bondi attack had weapons stockpile, police say
2 hours -
Ukraine loses embattled eastern town
2 hours -
Australia to deport British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols
2 hours
