Online Reporter
Felix Sapao in DAR ES SALAAM
IT’S good to see and read that Scottland are putting a lot of focus and effort on the CAF Champions League.
Their loan recruitment of Emmanuel Jalai is another step in the right direction.
The budgets of clubs, who want to do well in the interclub safari is above US$10 million.
What Scottland are doing now is what Simba and Young Africans were doing ten years ago.
Now, the two Tanzanian clubs are among the elite in Africa.
TP Mazembe were doing the same more than 15 years ago.
Their level went down because of politics which put pressure on club owner Moise Katumbi and the freezing of his financial resources in DRC but we are rebuilding.
It’s not easy.
The first or second year might not bring the much-needed results but the secret is not to give up and, after all the work is done and dusted, the light will come through.
TP Mazembe were knocked out of the CAF Champions League by CAPS United in 2017.
However, TP Mazembe went on to win the CAF Confederation Cup that year after technical changes and player recruitments for the group stages.
What is important is to match the North African threat, which is both on the field and mentally. But, please note that one has to match the CAF Champions League football player salaries of the North Africans to beat them.
You get quality from what you offer.
Right now, in our Southern Africa region, Sundowns, Mazembe, Young Africans and Simba and the clubs to beat.
I am in Tanzania and I see how the clubs are preparing for the African inter-club competitions.
They have already started preparing for next season.
CAF games are another level and you will note that only Sundowns and Pirates in South Africa are at that level in the whole of South Africa.
Petro Atletico in Angola are at that level because they offer high salaries.
I have already mentioned Simba and Young Africans, club financially backed by billionaires.
All these clubs have experience in African competitions like TP Mazembe.
It’s good to see Scottland spending big.
If it doesn’t work out in the first try, they should not give up, but raise the level higher.
But, it’s important for them to understand that it will not be an easy journey.
They are making the right moves right now and Zimbabwe should be back making waves in the CAF inter-club competitions. – Felix Sapao is an international football consultant and is based in Malawi
