Monday, March 26, 2012

Attack not promised in Tunis but 100% hopeful: Coach Kuyateh

Brikama United FC
Brikama United coach Sulayman Kuyateh says he does “not promise” to go on the offensive against African champions Esperance in the second leg in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

The Gambian league champions held their north Africa opponents in a 1-1 draw at home on March 24, 2012 at the Box Bar mini stadium in Brikama, the capital of the West Coast Region.


Kuyateh led an attacking side in the first round second leg of the CAF Champions league against US Ouakam in Senegal and won the game after loosing 1-0 at home. 

Asked if he would do the same against Esperance in the second leg of the second round, he said: “Not promised this time around, because Esperance is different from Ouakam.”

“I do not promise to attack them but I will see what strategy to use against them. Am 100 per cent hopeful that we can win,” he said. “I have young stars, we only need to reinforce the striking force and then build on that before going to Tunis.”

Brikama United is a very young team compared to Esperance of Tunis, so the result is really bad. We will try to prepare ourselves for the second leg, Kuyateh said. 

“Anything can happen,” he said, reiterating that they’ve lost to Ouakam at home and turned the tie in Senegal. However, he said it will not be bad if they are to defend against Esperance.

A goalless draw in Tunis would however end their campaign based on the away goal rule.

Brikama were much relaxed in the second period of Saturday’s game but Kuyateh said that was not an instruction from him. “That was not an instruction I gave to my players, as you can see during the game I was pushing them to go up,” he said.  

Brikama United skipper Saidou Jammeh is equally hopeful going into the return leg on the weekend of April 6-8. “Well it’s going to be difficult on us in Tunisia, but we are going to try our level best to make it to the group stage,” he said.


Author: Modou S. Joof

Follow on Twitter: @thenorthbankeve

 



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