Top South African side Santos are hoping for their second Confederation Cup Group B victory when they meet Cotonsport in Cameroon on Saturday.
The Cape Town side are lying second on the log with three points after beating another Cameroonian side, Sable de Batie 2-1 in Cape Town two weeks ago.
Hearts of Oak of Ghana are perched at the top of the table with four points from two matches. Santos have also played two matches.
”We are going to fight to the bitter end for a win but I will still be happy with a draw,” said Santos coach Boebie Solomons.
”We expect a tough match because Cotonsport will be playing at home, the good thing is that we have an idea of the conditions in Cameroon.”
Santos, who were defeated 1-0 by Hearts of Oak during their opening match in Kumasi in August, will be without attacking midfielder Ricardo Manneti.
The Namibian international withdraw from a the team a few hours prior to their departure to the West Africa country due to personal problems.
”I have no doubt that the guys that we brought along to Cameroon will make South Africa proud, we want to go all the way to the final in this tournament,” said Solomons.
Supersport promise to upset
Supersport United have pledged to cause an upset by beating Tunisian giants Esperance during their African Champions League match.
”Esperance owe us big time, they beat us 2-1 during the first leg match in Pretoria in July,” said United public relations officer Mazolman Skhosana.
”We are hoping for good referees unlike in the first leg where the game should have ended in a 1-all draw, Esperence got a controversial winning goal.
”However, that is water under the bridge and we are looking forward to the weekend game. We are well prepared to embarrass them in their own backyard.
”We will also be using Saturday’s match as part of our preparations for the October 2 SAA Supa 8 Cup final against Kaizer Chiefs.”
United are still to win a match since the start of the Champions League group stages matches but Skhosana is hoping for the first one in Tunis.
”We are definitely going to win on Saturday, it is our last away match of the tournament and we cannot afford to drop even a single point.”
Esperance are still topping the Group A log despite losing 3-0 to USM Alger in Algeria three weeks ago which resulted in the club firing coach Oscar Fullone, the coach Mamelodi Sundowns mentor.
The Tunisian side, who have already qaulified for the semifinals, have collected nine points from four matches.
United are languishing at the bottom of the table with only one point from the same number of matches.
The South African side play their last match against USM Alger in Pretoria on October 17. United are the only South African side remaining in the event.
Orlando Pirates were eliminated in April by Bakili Bullets of Malawi. – Sapa