Zamalek head coach Patrice Carteron has backed his charges to get the job done when his team takes on Kenya’s Tusker FC in their first leg CAF Champions League away clash scheduled to take place on Saturday afternoon at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.Having arrived in Kenya very early, as they jetted in the country’s capital on Tuesday morning, the White Knights have had adequate preparation time to adjust to the high altitude conditions that awaits them on Saturday.📸 | لقطات من وصول فريقنا🏃🏻⚽️🏹 الي كينيا 🇰🇪 🛬#CHAMP13NS | #Zamalek | #MostTitledIn20C | #الزمالك pic.twitter.com/X2MF44jEAk— Zamalek SC (@ZSCOfficial) October 12, 2021 However, being five time African champions – the joint second best in the tournament – the Egyptians come into the game as heavy favourites despite not having had any competitive fixtures since 27th August when they clinched the Egyptian Premier League.Heading into the game, the Zamalek boss reiterated his team’s intention of kick-starting their continental quest on a high knowing very well that there is no room for underrating the opposition as he called on the team to be wary and learn on previous experience where they were beaten 4-2 by record Kenyan champions back in 2019 in the Confederations Cup group stages.“In football, we have a lot of good teams in Africa and if you are not ready 100% especially mentally it can be a hard game. We have prepared ourselves as best as we can regarding the circumstances to have a good result. Of course we want to qualify for the next round and that means we have to beat the champions of Kenya. It will not be easy but we want to win of course,” the head coach stated when the team had a feel of the turf at Nyayo.📸 | لقطات من تدريبات اليوم لفريقنا🏃🏻⚽️🏹 في نيروبي🇰🇪.. إستعدادًا لمباراة فريق توسكر .. في ذهاب دور الـ ٣٢ بدوري أبطال أفريقيا🌍🏆#CHAMP13NS | #Zamalek | #MostTitledIn20C | #الزمالك pic.twitter.com/2lRFLEOWJr— Zamalek SC (@ZSCOfficial) October 14, 2021 Additionally, the head coach revealed why the team travelled early to the country and the kind of opposition he expects to find from the Kenyan representatives.“We came early this week to get used to the altitude of course and to prepare for this game very seriously. But we had a lot of players in the national team so it is really hard at the moment to know how we will be physically tomorrow because every Champions League game is a very hard game. Tusker won the Super Cup a few days ago so they will be very motivated coming in the match,” the head coach added.Final session and feeling of the pitch ahead of tomorrow’s CAF Champions League match against Zamalek SC.#KenyaMilele #Brewers4Life pic.twitter.com/ge6oKNbETg— 🏆Tusker FC (@tusker_fc) October 15, 2021 After the first leg tomorrow, the return leg will be played in Egypt a week later with the winner confirming their place in the group stages of the continental tournament.The match kicks off at 1500 EAT.
