CAF Champions League: Pillars Targets More Upsets, Crown

Kano Pillars created a major upset when they eliminated six-time champions Al-Ahly of Egypt in this year’s CAF Champions League, and their Ghanaian coach Malik Jabir has predicted they will cause a bigger shock by winning the entire competition.

“Our target is the ultimate and we believe we are capable. As first timers, it looks impossible, and we will prove our doubters wrong,” Jabir said in an interview published by CAF online.

“For the club, it is the first time, but for me, I have been there on many occasions as a coach with Asante Kotoko. I was a member of technical team when Asante Kotoko won their second title in 1983 and was in charge when they lost to Zamalek on penalties ten years later in the final. I hope my great knowledge and experience will be crucial to Kano Pillars.

“Of the clubs in our group, which of them can boast of a player of the calibre of Mohamed Aboutrika of Al-Ahly? My players are inexperienced yet they eliminated the most experienced side in the competition.”

Jabir insisted that their giant-killing feat against Ahly will now not work against them.

“All the attention will be on us and we are not perturbed. We will prove to all that our victory over Ahly was no fluke and we are ready to conquer all,” he declared.

The Pillars coach said his team may not have star players but they play for each other.

“We have no big names in our team. It is a young team and they play as a unit,” he disclosed.

“One area of concern is the attack, and we hope to work on that before the group stage begins. We create many chances but convert only a few, and this was evident in the narrow scorelines during the previous rounds. With defence, there is little to do and our hope is to get a full house for the second round.”

Pillars begin the group phase of Africa’s richest club competition this weekend with an away trip to Zambia’s Zesco United. Sudanese clubs Al Hilal and El Merreikh are the other teams in their group.

Olofinjana (14) in action for Nigeria