Gamtel bemoan sub-standard pitches ahead of CAF game

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By Sulayman Bah

Gaffer Tapha Manneh has said his Gamtel side faces not much major challenges ahead of their maiden appearance in the CAF Tapha Mannehcompetition except for pitch issues.

The Gambian champions meet Moroccan vice champions Olympique Khourigba next month.

Preparations for the first-leg to be played in Morocco is at fever pitch and Manneh yesterday revealed to Foroyaa Sport that his outfit are faced with no major hiccups except for the lack of standard training facilities.

At the moment though his side is making do with training at the East Park and in Yundum as the least better surfaces.

‘We are preparing very well for the match. Everything is okay at the moment but the pitches here are not up to standard for a team looking to partake in such a major competition. Otherwise that has been our only problem,’ he said.

He continued: ‘We are using the league (domestic GFF First Division) as a means fully preparing to give us competition. We are going to use the same players and no new ones are coming because we have long registered those who are to play’

The first leg billed for Rabat either 12, 13 or 14th February, will be Manneh’s debut in the Orange Champions League preliminary round.

Playing the second-leg game at home is considered a massive advantage and Gamtel will look to make that count when the Telecom Giants rematch with OCK in Banjul either the 18th, 19th or 20th of March 2016.

Gamtel, on a fine run of form in the ongoing domestic league, are no strangers in Caf competitions having featured umpteenth times in Confederation cup including Wafu.

And, replicating such a form will top gaffer Manneh’s agenda albeit this time in the Orange Champions League.