By Sulayman Bah
Gambia title holders are capable of matching OlympiqueKhourigba insists Gamtel coach TaphaManneh after 
his side were paired with the Moroccan vice champions.
Gamtel learnt of the side they face following balloting held in Dakar last week Friday.
And reacting to the seeding Manneh, who guided the capital-based outfit to their first league gong last season, believes his charges are capable of matching Khourigba on football terms despite the contrasting fortunes between the clubs.
Gambian sides have always been pried on by North African sides and Gamtel goes into next year’s tournament with their exit to Tunisia’s Safxien CS in 2013 still fresh.
‘It’s a fair draw. It’s however unfortunate we meet with North Africans who have been threat to us. We are going to make sure that we work hard and have better standing in the championship. Moroccan sides are well organized –financially compare to us. But as far as football is concerned sometimes records fail. We have experience in Caf Confederation (and our record) especially away from the country is there for all to see,’ Manneh who’s one of the country’s most decorated local coaches told Foroyaa Sport.
Gamtel end their campaign at home something Manneh is ardent on taking advantage of.
‘It’s an advantage to play at home (for the final leg). We would have known our opponents by that time. I think we can match that team,’ he says.
Partaking in such prestigious championship require teams to beef up their rosters, and already, the telecom giants have secured three players including striker BubaSama from Armed Forces Football Club.
He continues: ‘this year, we got three players: one from Brikama and our feeder club and the other one from Armed Forces BubaSama’
It has been bandied about that Gamtel could recall on-loan striker AssanCeesay from Niarry Tally in time for the Champions League to bolster the club’s strike force but Tapha ruled out such notions.
‘AssanCeesay is already gone -he’s on loan to Niarry Tally. Bringing him down here is not in the plan. The players we are going to use are already registered’ he said.
Gamtel squares Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisa should they beat Olympique.
