A few hours ahead of today's anticipated clash against Morocco's MAS Fes in CAF Confederation Cup final, Club Africain coach Faouzi Benzarti reveals the secrets that may lead his team to success Tunisia's Club Africain coach Faouzi Benzarti, strategising out loud, said that in order to get ahead, his team shouldn't concede goals at home when they host Morocco's MAS Fes tonight in the first leg of CAF Confederation Cup final. "It will be a determinant, but not totally, because there will be the return match on 4 December in Fes. We have to do our best and not concede any goal in front of our fans in Rades. It will be to our advantage if we score because Club Africain does its best in away games. You will recall our exploits in Nigeria against Kaduna United and Sunshine Stars,” former Tunisia coach Benzarti told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) official website on Saturday. Club Africain are hot on the trail of their first African trophy in twenty years under the guidance of Benzarti, who shines many previous African scene achievements with Tunisian clubs Esperance and Etoile of Sahel. Despite the injuries and suspensions that may negatively affect his team in today's match, the 61-year old coach, Benzarti, has his own philosophy to overcome these obstacles. "Yes, we have several suspensions, including our Chadian attacker Ezechiel Ndouassel. Meanwhile, our midfielder, Aymen Soltani is injured. Our team has always been affected by forced absences all throughout our sojourn in African competitions this season,” the coach explained. “I can only count on 16 players on Saturday. This is the case with African lists as they suffer major drain without our players. This year we recorded 10 departures. But we must deal with it and make up for it with solidarity and consistency, which is a very important tool in modern football,” he added. Considering tonight's victory as a deserved reward for his team, Benzarti also has the full respect of his opponent, MAS Fes, as they were lauded by their coach: "It is a team with respectable, brave and big players. It reflects the improvement of Moroccan football with two finalists in the African Clubs Cup and their return to the forefront of the national team. This is the same for Tunisian football after the Revolution,” the former UAE coach said. "We have to minimise the spaces in front of the opponent and not allow them play and gain confidence. If we can implement this strategy, we can win, even if the opponent is a bit tough. “Beyond the personal satisfaction that I would get, I think it would be a beautiful reward for a team that works hard and is trying to improve. The team has been faced with so many uncertainties. Club Africain really deserves such a reward for its persistence and perseverance,” concluded Benzarti. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/26937.aspx
