04:27The coach of the Sudanese football club Al-Hilal Club Omdurman, Florent Ibenge, explained how the ongoing armed conflict affects the daily lives of his players in an interview during the draw for the group stages of the upcoming CAF Champions League on Monday in Cairo.
“I have players who still have their families there in Sudan, in the war zone, so they cannot be 100% all the time, and we are not living a normal situation, even if the managers do everything to make us comfortable,” Ibenge said. "When you play football, living in a hotel all year round isn't easy, but we're not going to look for excuses; we're going to do everything to reach these quarterfinals," he added.
“The players are showing exceptional mentality, and I take my hat off to them, but we are not immune. We are not safe if hostilities ever flare up again,” he explained.
The club will play the Tanzanian league this season after the Sudanese league was halted because of the war. It has set itself the target of reaching the quarterfinals of the CAF and Ibenge affirmed that his squad will do everything to please its supporters who cannot watch their favourite club because of the conflict.
“We're going to give everything so that the Sudanese people can be a little happy in the difficult situation she is going through," he declared.
Meanwhile, other participants including Naby Keita, Guinean national team midfielder, Siphiwe Tshabalala, former South Africa midfielder, and Amr Ellez, administrative manager of Zamalek Club, praised the draw and noted that many teams are in the running for this season’s title.
“There are many teams capable of going all the way and winning it. Al Ahly is very capable - they’re the defending champions. Sundowns have great quality and still have a big chance of winning it. Pirates have been doing well at home, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to this challenge, and they also have the potential to go all the way,” Tshabalala said.
During the draw, the 16 clubs that will take part in this year’s tournament were split into four groups.
In Group A, Al-Hilal were drawn alongside MC Alger, TP Mazembe and Young Africans. Group B saw AS FAR placed with Mamelodi Sundowns, Maniema Union and Raja CA. Al Ahly, CR Belouizdad, Orlando Pirates and Stade d'Abidjan will contest Group C, while Djoliba, ES Tunis, Pyramids and Sagrada Esperanca were drawn in Group D.
'Players are showing exceptional mentality' - Coach of war-torn Sudan's Al-Hilal Club Omdurman at CAF Champions League draw
The coach of the Sudanese football club Al-Hilal Club Omdurman, Florent Ibenge, explained how the ongoing armed conflict affects the daily lives of his players in an interview during the draw for the group stages of the upcoming CAF Champions League on Monday in Cairo.
“I have players who still have their families there in Sudan, in the war zone, so they cannot be 100% all the time, and we are not living a normal situation, even if the managers do everything to make us comfortable,” Ibenge said. "When you play football, living in a hotel all year round isn't easy, but we're not going to look for excuses; we're going to do everything to reach these quarterfinals," he added.
“The players are showing exceptional mentality, and I take my hat off to them, but we are not immune. We are not safe if hostilities ever flare up again,” he explained.
The club will play the Tanzanian league this season after the Sudanese league was halted because of the war. It has set itself the target of reaching the quarterfinals of the CAF and Ibenge affirmed that his squad will do everything to please its supporters who cannot watch their favourite club because of the conflict.
“We're going to give everything so that the Sudanese people can be a little happy in the difficult situation she is going through," he declared.
Meanwhile, other participants including Naby Keita, Guinean national team midfielder, Siphiwe Tshabalala, former South Africa midfielder, and Amr Ellez, administrative manager of Zamalek Club, praised the draw and noted that many teams are in the running for this season’s title.
“There are many teams capable of going all the way and winning it. Al Ahly is very capable - they’re the defending champions. Sundowns have great quality and still have a big chance of winning it. Pirates have been doing well at home, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to this challenge, and they also have the potential to go all the way,” Tshabalala said.
During the draw, the 16 clubs that will take part in this year’s tournament were split into four groups.
In Group A, Al-Hilal were drawn alongside MC Alger, TP Mazembe and Young Africans. Group B saw AS FAR placed with Mamelodi Sundowns, Maniema Union and Raja CA. Al Ahly, CR Belouizdad, Orlando Pirates and Stade d'Abidjan will contest Group C, while Djoliba, ES Tunis, Pyramids and Sagrada Esperanca were drawn in Group D.
The coach of the Sudanese football club Al-Hilal Club Omdurman, Florent Ibenge, explained how the ongoing armed conflict affects the daily lives of his players in an interview during the draw for the group stages of the upcoming CAF Champions League on Monday in Cairo.
“I have players who still have their families there in Sudan, in the war zone, so they cannot be 100% all the time, and we are not living a normal situation, even if the managers do everything to make us comfortable,” Ibenge said. "When you play football, living in a hotel all year round isn't easy, but we're not going to look for excuses; we're going to do everything to reach these quarterfinals," he added.
“The players are showing exceptional mentality, and I take my hat off to them, but we are not immune. We are not safe if hostilities ever flare up again,” he explained.
The club will play the Tanzanian league this season after the Sudanese league was halted because of the war. It has set itself the target of reaching the quarterfinals of the CAF and Ibenge affirmed that his squad will do everything to please its supporters who cannot watch their favourite club because of the conflict.
“We're going to give everything so that the Sudanese people can be a little happy in the difficult situation she is going through," he declared.
Meanwhile, other participants including Naby Keita, Guinean national team midfielder, Siphiwe Tshabalala, former South Africa midfielder, and Amr Ellez, administrative manager of Zamalek Club, praised the draw and noted that many teams are in the running for this season’s title.
“There are many teams capable of going all the way and winning it. Al Ahly is very capable - they’re the defending champions. Sundowns have great quality and still have a big chance of winning it. Pirates have been doing well at home, and I’m sure they’re looking forward to this challenge, and they also have the potential to go all the way,” Tshabalala said.
During the draw, the 16 clubs that will take part in this year’s tournament were split into four groups.
In Group A, Al-Hilal were drawn alongside MC Alger, TP Mazembe and Young Africans. Group B saw AS FAR placed with Mamelodi Sundowns, Maniema Union and Raja CA. Al Ahly, CR Belouizdad, Orlando Pirates and Stade d'Abidjan will contest Group C, while Djoliba, ES Tunis, Pyramids and Sagrada Esperanca were drawn in Group D.