A tough task awaits Amakhosi as their tackle Tunisian giants and former African champions Esperance in their own backyard in the third round, first leg Champions League match on Saturday, kick-off 19:00 SA time.

What the players said:

MABEDI

The trip was long and tiring but we managed to arrive at our destination in time to loosen up and to acclimatize. This morning we are well rested and feeling much better. The players are ready and well prepared for the game. Tactically we don’t know much about our opponent Esperance having changed their coach recently, after losing the first leg against the Sudanese team 2-0, now they have a local coach.

What we do know though, is that their track record in the Champions league is amazing and that they are definitely one of the top teams ranked by FIFA in Africa, but so are we so that does not scare us. Not knowing much about their tactics and their game plan can also be to our advantage as it will allow us not to be distracted & to do our job on the field as planned.

It’s very important for us to score 1 or 2 goals tomorrow without conceding any as that would represent the ideal situation for us when we face them in our return game in SA on the 23rd April 2005 and this is very possible to achieve considering the team we have.

I look forward to the game tomorrow and in securing our place to the next stage of the Champions League.

FERNANDEZ

All the hard work and preparations have already been done during the week for this game so now its just a question of getting on the field and doing the job.

This evenings training session which will be held at the stadium where the match will be played and will consist of the final preparations for the game and set pieces. After that we just need to win!

Esperance's Champions (Cup) League home record

2005:


1st round: v Al Hilal (Sudan) 5-1

2004:


1st round: v Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia) 4-0


2nd round: v Coptonsport Goroua (Cameroon) 3-0


Group: v Jeanne d'Arc (Senegal)5-0; v USMA (Algeria) 3-0; v SuperSport United (South Africa) 2-0


Semifinal: v Enyimba (Nigeria) 1-1

2003:


1st round: v Rayon Sport (Rwa)5-0


2nd round: v Highlanders (Zimbabwe) 6-0


Group: v Canon Yaounde (Cameroon) 2-1; v Aviacao (Angola) 1-0 ; v USMA (Algeria) 2-0


Semifinal: v Ismailia (Egypt) 1-3

2002


1st round: v Tourbillon (Chad) 5-1


2nd round: v Al Madina (Libya) 4-0


Group: v Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast) 2-0; v Costa do Sol (Mozambique) 4-1; v Zamalek (Egypt) 1-1

2001:


1st round: v JS Tenere (Nigeria) 1-0


2nd round: v (Kenya) Tusker 1-0


Group: v TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 2-1; v Julius Berger (Nigeria) 3-2; v Sundowns (South Africa); 0-0


Semifinal: v Al Ahly (Egypt) 1-1

2000


1st round: v Patriotic Army (Rwanda) 7-0


2nd round: v Djoliba (Mali) 3-2


Group: v Sable Batie (Cameroon) 4-0; v Sundowns (South Africa) 3-2; v Africa Sports (Ivory Coast) 2-0


Final: v Hearts of Oak (Ghana) 1-2

1999


1st round: v Al-Mahala (Libya) 2-0


2nd round: v Al Hilal (Sudan) 5-0


Group: v Asec Mimosas (Ivory Coast) 3-0; v St Louisienne (Reunion) 5-0; v Dynamos (Zimbabwe) 1-0


Final: v Raja Casablanca (Morocco) 0-0

1995:


1st round: v Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) 4-1


2nd round: v Fire Brigade (Mauritius) 2-0


Quarterfinal: v Ismailia (Egypt) 0-1

1994


1st round: v Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) 5-0


2nd round: Stade Malien (Mali) 3-0


Quarterfinal: v Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Nigeria) 3-0


Semifinal: v Mouloudia Oran (Algeria) 3-1


Final: v Zamalek (Egypt) 3-1

1992:


1st round: v Horoya (Guinea) 2-0

1990


1st round: v Stade Malien (Mali) 2-0


2nd round: v Al Ahly (Egypt) 0-0


Quarterfinal: v Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Nigeria) 1-1

1989


1st round: v Etoile Filante (Burkina Faso) 2-1


2nd round: v Mouloudia Oran (Algeria) 3-2

1986


1st round: v Al Merreikh (Sudan) 1-0


2nd round: v JET (Algeria) 1-0


Quarterfinals: v Africa Sports (Ivory Coast) 2-1

1971:


1st round: Al Ahly Benghazi (Libya) 0-0