Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebogang Manyama is relishing the chance to put “a star on our jersey” when Amakhosi square off with Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final.
The Soweto giants are preparing for their final test of the 2020/21 campaign after seeing off Wydad Athletic Club with a 1-0 aggregate victory over two legs.
And the upcoming final will arguably provide their sternest test to date, especially with former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane at the helm of the Egyptian outfit.
Manyama admits it’s “going to be a very interesting one” due to the South African connection and the fact that Mosimane is all too familiar with the talent in the Chiefs squad.
“Most of us are very familiar with the coaching staff there‚ very good people‚ top‚ top coaches that have done very well in their coaching careers‚ and obviously in their playing careers,” said Manyama, as quoted by TimesLIVE.
“And jah‚ they know [us]‚ we are an open book to them because we have faced each other so many times‚ with coach Pitso more especially.
“So it is going to be a very interesting one‚ but jah‚ we are looking forward to it.
“Obviously Al Ahly are a very big team‚ they have always been big even without coach Pitso. So that means now they are probably much‚ much better and much stronger you know.”
Manyama continued: “Look‚ a final is a final and it is one game.
“It is about who wants it more on the day and I think we are quite ready for [Saturday]. We are just going to enjoy every moment of it because we have come a long way to be where we are and we should be very proud.
“We want to go as far as taking it and putting a star on our jersey‚ which would mean a whole lot because I think every Kaizer Chiefs fan deserves this after the rough times we have had without having a trophy [six-year drought].
“And then all of a sudden we are in the biggest one [the CAF Champions League] and I think we have to do this for the badge.
“The chairman [Kaizer Motaung] deserves this for all the work he has done for the club‚ to put the club where it is‚ to also push through during those tough times.
“I think he also deserves something and nothing would be better than to put the star on the badge‚ on the T-shirt that he created.”
Chiefs will face Al Ahly at the Stade Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday night, with kick-off set for 21:00.