MTNFootball

Mongezi Bobe

Black Leopards skipper Mongezi Bobe says his side are ready to fight for a place in the group stages of the 2012 CAF Confederation Cup.

Leopards host Sudanese side Al-Merreikh at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 15h00), needing just a single goal to advance to the Last 8.

Their 3-2 loss in Omdurman a fortnight ago has given them hope for the return leg, especially as Al-Merreikh are notoriously poor travelers, having won just one of their last 17 matches away from home in African club football.

Leopards looked to be out of the tie at 3-0 down going into the final stages, but late goals from Bobe and David Zulu have perhaps even made them favourites in the tie.

That is certainly the view of their captain, who is looking forward to tackling the Sudanese again.  

“I can proudly say that we are confident because we had a good game on the first leg, considering that it was away. We collected two away goals which should come in handy and make things a bit easier on the second game,” Bobe says.

“It is a very important game. We have made a lot of sacrifices on our journey of the CAF Cup. Some it is only fair that we take this with the utmost of seriousness in order to give our best.”

Bobe says that he believes the whole of South Africa will be behind the side, especially as teams from the country have generally performed poorly in African club competitions down the years.

“The team has its own supporters, but I would just like to add that this is no longer a team effort but a country effort in flying the national flag. We need all the support we can get from the people of South Africa as we are the only team that still represents in the CAF. So get your tickets and come rally behind the team, and we will try by all means to get you to blow the Vuvuzelas in joy.”