Azam ready to send El-Merreikh packing

Khartoum. Tanzanian champions Azam FC carry a 2-0 advantage to Sudan looking to complete the job started two weeks ago in Dar es Salaam when they face hosts El Merreikh today.

Coach Joseph Omog’s men need a draw, or even a 1-0 defeat, to progress to the first round thanks to Didier Kavumbagu and John Bocco’s strikes in the first leg at Azam Complex.

Speaking after last evening’s light training, the Chamazi boys’ assistant coach, George Nsimbe, said that players were in high morale and raring to dump El Merreikh out of the CAF Champions League.

“The boys are in a buoyant mood and ready for the match,” he said, adding, “Hopefully, we’ll get the desired results to progress to the next round.”

Nsimbe said: “Now that we have one foot in the first round, we need to guard more against complacency and try as much as possible to avoid conceding goals here.

“It is our desire to take control of the game right from the kickoff just like we did a fortnight ago, but El-Merreikh will be hard-pressed to overturn the score, so we definitely expect an offensive strategy from them.”

He went on to say that they had a full and fit squad that had high levels of fitness unlike in the first leg where he felt they were a bit sluggish.

“The boys have worked really hard and the good thing is; we have no injuries to worry about. The headache that we may encounter is on choosing who should play on the day,” he added.

Kavumbagu, the scorer of the first goal at the Azam Complex, urged his teammates to forget El Merreikh’s mind games and focus on the game.

“We have seen a lot since we arrived here, but as players you must be used to the off the pitch distractions. We have to forget them and deliver on Saturday,” said the towering Burundian forward.