Azam won’t underestimate APR – Zakaria

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Jul 14, 2024. 10:59

Tanzania’s Azam FC have insisted that they will not underestimate APR of Rwanda in the first preliminary round of the upcoming CAF Champions League season.

Azam, who were runners-up in the Mainland Premier League last season and have thus earned entry into the top-tier continental competition alongside Young Africans, will face APR over two legs on the weekends of 16-18 and 23-25 August.

The winners of this tie will advance into the second preliminary round and take on either JKU (Zanzibar) or Pyramids FC (Egypt).

Azam are looking to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time, though communications manager Thabit Zakaria insists that, for now at least, they will look no further than the task of overcoming APR.

“APR is not a team to be underestimated. With respect, we haven’t achieved anything yet in the CAF interclub competition,” said a humble Zakaria, as quoted by The Guardian.

“The Rwandan side is a hard and tough team to play against; they have played qualification stages for many years but have yet to qualify.

“The hunger they have is what drives us to be cautious and focused on building a strong team in the CAF Champions League so that we can achieve our goal.

“I know it will be tough, but we will put in intensive preparations to succeed.”

Azam are undergoing pre-season training in Zanzibar and will fly to Morocco next week for friendlies under the guidance of coach Youssouph Dabo.