Bibiani GoldStars captain Yakubu Haqq says thorough preparation will be crucial as the club gears up for its maiden CAF Champions League appearance.

GoldStars will represent Ghana in Africa’s elite club competition after winning the Ghana Premier League for the first time in their history last season.

Speaking to Joy Sports, the 30-year-old defender stressed the importance of being fully ready to face the continent’s best.

"It's a tough task, which you need to prepare very well for, because we, being champions in Ghana, are going to face champions elsewhere," he said.

He added that the level of focus in pre-season has already surpassed what he’s seen in past years: "So each game you're in, you need to tell yourself you're playing against a champion, which I think is why this time our preparation is ahead of the previous seasons I know of GoldStars."

The club has bolstered its squad with at least ten new signings and is expected to add more ahead of the campaign.

"This season's signings cover all departments, so you can see the new guys are also responding very well, which I think has made things very competitive, which I think is good,” Haqq added.

"Because if everyone is competing, that means if you don't compete very well, it will be very hard for you to even get playing time. So those who are around are competing very well."

GoldStars will learn their preliminary round opponents on August 12.