Kenya Police are set to make history as they debut in the CAF Confederation Cup’s preliminary round against the Ethiopian Coffee Stars on Sunday at Nyayo Stadium.Police are making their inaugural appearance on the continental stage after winning the Mozzart Bet Cup last season.It will be interesting to see how the well-oiled side adapts to the sudden coaching changes ahead of the fixture.##NAJAVA_MECA_8275730##Former Ulinzi Stars coach Antony Kimani was appointed as an assistant on Friday, stepping in to lead the team against the Ethiopians due to regular head coach Salim Babu’s lack of the required coaching license.The coaching change occurred because Babu does not meet the minimum qualifications required to manage a team in CAF competitions. He holds a CAF B license, while the necessary qualification is a CAF A license. However, Babu will remain an ‘assistant’ coach on the bench.Babu, who led the team to a domestic triumph last season, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness after what he describes as a good preseason.”We have had ample time to prepare, except for one injured player, and the boys are ready. We expect a good performance. Given that it’s our first time competing internationally, there’s no pressure.””Most of my players have experience on big stages from their previous clubs, so we have an idea of what to expect. We aim to be aggressive and score as many goals as possible at home,” Babu stated.Moment of truth as Gor Mahia start treacherous CAF Champions League campaignHis captain, Musa Mohammed, also shared his optimism about starting their campaign on a high note.”We have had a productive camp, and everyone is prepared. The new additions have blended well with the rest of the team, and we are hopeful for a positive result. This is a huge experience for the club and the players. We encourage all our fans to come out and support us,” said Musa, a former Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars skipper.Police, who have an experienced team, will rely on internationals such as Kenneth Muguna, Aboud Omar, and goalkeeper Patrick Matasi to get the job done in Nairobi.In addition to the veterans, the team will be banking on the exceptional talents of newly recruited players, including winger Eric Zakayo, Jaffari Owiti, Daniel Sakari, Jackson Macharia, Brian Musa, Geoffrey Onyango, and goalkeeper John Samuel Njau, to propel them to a maiden continental victory.STARS ABROAD: Full minutes for Vyner in Bristol City’s win as Oduor features for BradfordShould Police advance, they will face Confederation Cup defending champions Zamalek of Egypt in the first round.The match kicks off at 1500hrs.
