Kabylie’s Domestic Struggles Irrelevant- Frimpong Manso
Bibiani Gold Stars head coach Stephen Frimpong Manso says his side will not be swayed by JS Kabylie’s difficult start to the Algerian league season as the two clubs prepare to square off in the CAF Champions League preliminary round.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the experienced Ghanaian coach dismissed suggestions that Kabylie’s winless run in their domestic campaign—two draws and a defeat in their opening three matches—makes them vulnerable.
“We don’t have to even think about that. For me, it’s nothing,” Manso stressed. “We still respect them a lot and the standings you are talking about it’s three weeks old so it’s nothing. For me, we are not thinking about that – they are a very strong side we respect them.”
Gold Stars, who are featuring in Africa’s premier club competition for the first time in their history, will stage the first leg of the tie at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. Their home ground in Bibiani was deemed unfit to host CAF fixtures.
While his side carries the momentum of being reigning Ghana Premier League champions, Manso warned against complacency.
“On the field of play, we will not say they are 14th on the table after three weeks so we are going to walk over them – no, not at all. It’s going to be a tough game,” he cautioned.
The clash sets up a fascinating duel between a storied North African powerhouse and Ghanaian debutants hungry to make their mark. The return fixture is scheduled for September 26 in Algeria, where Gold Stars will hope to finish the job and book their place in the next round.
