Lions Relish African Prospect

Football ENTERPRISING HEART of Lions would this weekend open their campaign for the CAF Champions League when they play as guests to Burkinabe side Etoile Filante on Sunday.

The match which would take place in Ouagadougou will be the first for the Kpando lads who have become a force to reckon with in the premier league.

Indeed the team is already dreaming of a big impact in the continent's biggest competition.

Paa Kwesi Fabin, head coach of the team is beaming with confidence, and hopeful that his side would eliminate the Burkinabes who are considered more experienced on the African terrain after making some attempts in the past.

The Lions' coach is expected to rely on some experienced players such as local Black Stars players Dan Yeboah, Emmanuel Ansong and Edmund Owusu Ansah. Other exciting players such as Kofi Nti Boakye and Stephen Owusu are expected to make Lions' debut in the competition a memorable one.

A club not noted for high profile signings with talk about their lack of inexperienced players, club CEO Walter Yankah believes the squad is tactically positioned to play on the continental stage.

The club this season purchased some high profile players such as Dan Yeboah and Kofi Nti Boakye of Liberty Professionals.

“The players we have are good technically and they would be equal to the task tactically when the need be.

“Of course, it's a first for over 90 percent of the playing squad and even the other members of the team but we would be up for it,” Walter Yankah said.

This would be the club's second involvement in a CAF competition. Lions could have been part of the Confederation Cup in 2004 after qualifying; but they withdrew from the competition citing financial constraints and were handed a two-year ban.

By Charles Nixon Yeboah