Former Zambia midfielder Noah Chivuta has urged Red Arrows to make maximum use of home advantage when they face South African giants Kaizer Chiefs in the pre-group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Red Arrows booked their place in the next round after eliminating Malagasy side FC Rouge in the first preliminary round, winning both legs to advance.
Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, received a bye in the opening preliminary round and will enter the competition at the pre-group stage.
Speaking in an interview with BolaNews, Chivuta said the Airmen must approach the tie with the bigger picture of improving Zambia’s representation in CAF competitions in mind.
“These are the hopes we have for the people representing us in CAF. They are really the only ones who can try to reach the group stage so the numbers of teams participating can be raised.”
Kaizer Chiefs much tougher opponent
However, Chivuta warned that Kaizer Chiefs would pose a much tougher challenge, adding that the first leg in Zambia could prove decisive.
“Now, facing Kaizer Chiefs, which will be a very, very tricky opponent. But, you know, playing against a team in South Africa, just if you plan well,” he said.
Chivuta, who spent part of his playing career in South Africa, said Red Arrows must be aggressive at home and secure a positive first-leg result.
“If they come at our home, we just have to win at home at all costs because also those teams, more especially South African teams, they get intimidated easily when they’re travelling to continental games like the Cup,” he said.
He urged Red Arrows to score as many goals as possible in the first leg to ease the pressure ahead of the return fixture in South Africa.
“At home, it will be really a good start for Red Arrows to collect maximum points and maybe hope for a result away, a draw or a win, or losing by not a big margin. But at home, that’s where it will matter the most,” Chivuta said.
“If you’re starting at home, you do your business and you don’t wait until the last minute because if you go away and you lose, then you are coming under pressure.”
Chivuta believes a convincing home victory would put Red Arrows in a stronger position heading into the return leg, giving them a cushion even if they suffer a narrow defeat in South Africa.
Red Arrows will host the first leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola this afternoon.
