Tall order for Azam in Rabat

Tanzania’s sole envoys in continental club championships, Azam FC are confident that they will get a crucial result in the return match against Morocco’s FAR Rabat on Saturday and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup third round.

Azam FC players

On papers, Azam FC chances to sail into the third round are dim, after failing to win at home against West African side about two weeks ago. In the first leg match Azam were clueless and below par as they were held to a barren draw at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Stewart Hall’s men will need to score and avoid defeat to reach the next round of the continental second tier club championship at the expenses of the three-time winners FAR Rabat.

Hall is aware of the task ahead and has promised to play strong to get good results. He remained optimistic that they will come out with positive results.
Ahead of the decisive match, Hall turned at the 52,000-seater Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium to watch their opponents in league action, against Widad Fez on Tuesday.

Accompanied by assistant coach Kally Ongala, the Englishman was busy taking notes as he scouted FAR Rabat during their 1-0 hard-fought win over Widad Fez.Hall appeared in a relaxed and jovial mood and was optimistic after closely following the proceedings at the multi-purpose arena – the home ground of FAR Rabat named after Prince Moulay Abdellah of Morocco.

“I have watched them and still don’t think they’re such a team that can get us worried. We’re a better team and I believe that we’ll excel against them,” the Azam tactician, Hall, said. However, his players will really need to up their game and keep their feet on the ground if they are to come out with anything tangible basing on the performance of the first leg match, in which in a nutshell, Azam lacked cohesion especially in the first half.

They failed to combine well from the backline, midfield and forward-line, playing off much more square passes. They also lacked intensity upfront, slowing off their movements going forward, which only allowed their opponents to easily deal with their assaults.

Certainly, there were positives to take from the team’s second half performance, where it was Azam who looked the more comfortable team and threatened in a couple of occasions.

Regardless, Azam playmaker Salum Abubakar ‘Sure Boy Jr’ said they are not worried about FAR Rabat and is convinced that Azam has what it takes to upset their hosts at their own backyard.The diminutive midfielder, son of the former Young Africans wing wizard Abubakar Salum ‘Sure Boy,’ said his confidence stems from their splendid away form, having won their two away games in the preceding two rounds.

They beat South Sudan’s El Nasir Juba 5-0 in the return leg match of the preliminary round having won 3-1 in the first leg and edged out Barrack Young Controllers of Liberia 2-1 in the first round first leg in Monrovia. The Dar es Salaam tycoons nudged through into the second round of the continental second tier after a barren draw in the return fixture.

Azam jetted in Rabat on Monday and decided to set a week camp in Rabat to get acclimated to the weather condition in Morocco, as well play trial matches ahead of the decisive return leg encounter.

Source Tanzania Daily News

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