Kaizer Chiefs winger Asanele Velebayi admits he’s a bit worried however excited after making his first-ever time out to Egypt in the CAF Confederation Cup towards Al Masry.
Kaizer Chiefs teenager Asanele Velebayi isn’t pretending to be unfazed. The 22-year-old winger has overtly admitted that stepping into Egypt for the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) team tiers feels like getting into a entire new soccer world.
AL MASRY HOST KAIZER CHIEFS IN SUEZ
Amakhosi kick off their CAFCC experience towards Al Masry on Sunday at the Suez Stadium at 18:00. It’s a heavyweight assignment, and Velebayi is aware of it.
“Obviously, it’s a big second for me to be journeying in Africa, to Egypt, for the first time,” the 22-year-old winger advised the club’s media. “We have watched some of the Egyptian league as section of our instruction so I am awaiting a hard game, however I am in reality searching ahead to the challenge,” the Philipi-born attacker added.
“To be honest, personally, I’m a little bit anxious however we have gamers who have skilled taking part in at this degree before, whom I have confidence to share their information of what to expect,” Velebayi concluded.
GROUP D LAYOUT
Group D additionally consists of Egyptian giants Zamalek and Zesco United from Zambia. To gain success, Kaizer Chiefs want a top-two finish.
Zamalek are in all likelihood the group to beat. The White Knights have lifted the CAF Confederation Cup twice, in 2018/19 and once more in 2023/24.
For Kaizer Chiefs, progressing past the qualifiers has been rare. The final time Amakhosi reached the knockout rounds was once in 2013/14, when they have been crushed 3–1 on combination through Ivorian giants ASEC Mimosas in the spherical of 16.
Zesco additionally have records towards the Soweto giants, the Zambian aspect eradicated Amakhosi in the second-round qualifiers of the 2018/19 marketing campaign with a 5–2 combination victory. Zesco’s excellent continental run got here in 2016/17, the place they reached the quarterfinals earlier than bowing out to SuperSport United.
Al Masry, meanwhile, can’t be underestimated. Their strongest displaying in this opposition got here in 2017/18 when they reached the semifinals however fell to AS Vita. Last season, they pushed once more however have been knocked out in the quarterfinals on penalties with the aid of Fadlu Davids’ AS Simba.