Civics to face giants Mamosas

CIVICS will be expected to go straight into training to prepare for a titanic encounter against Ivory Coast champions ASEC Mimosas this week, after their historic qualification to the second round of the CAF Champions League by going past Angola’s Sagrada Esperanca on aggregate at the weekend.

Civics moved into the second round after they obtained a 5-2 aggregate win by beating the Angolans 4-0 in their first-leg match in Windhoek, before losing 2-1 in the second-leg match in Luanda on Sunday. The ‘Civilians’ are expected to be welcomed by their ardent supporters when they touch down at the Hosea International Airport this afternoon, a gesture from their fans that they are proud of the achievement, while hoping that they will make it far in the competition.Civics qualified for the second round for the first time in its history since it was formed in 1983, but tasted football in the same competition when they played against South Africa’s SuperSport United in 2004.The side, which has relatively young players ranging from 20 to 25 years of age, became the first team to have blasted four goals past Angolan league champions Sagrada Esperanca at the Independence Stadium in the competition.Civics striker William Chilufya also became the first player to have scored a hat-trick against the Angolan side, while midfielder Heinrich Isaacs also became the first player to score away in Angola against the same side in the competition.Civics are now facing a tall order, as they will face Ivorian league champions ASEC Mamosas who swept aside East End Lions from Sierra Leone by winning with a 7-0 aggregate.ASEC Mamosas won their first-leg match 4-0 in Freetown, before thumping the Lions 3-0 in Abidjan at the weekend.Civics will travel to Abidjan on the weekend of March 17 to 19 to fulfil their first-leg obligations, before hosting the West Africans between March 31 and April 2 at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.ASEC Mamosas is one of the biggest clubs in that country and current Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba started his playing career with them before making it big in the European leagues.The most feared players for ASEC Mamosas are Emmanuel Umoh, Me Diomande and Vincent Ali N’Dri, who all hit the target in their two matches against East End Lions.Despite that, Civics also has its own ammunition in striker Chilufya, while his efforts are greatly complemented by his reliable midfielders like Congo Hindjou, Jamunovandu Ngatjizeko, Rudi Louw and Henrich Isaacs.Civics, who are currently topping the domestic league, have been consistent in most of their performances and last season only lost one match from a total of 30 in the premiership.This season, Civics have lost one match from their 11 matches so far and are destined to scoop the league title for the second time, judging from their current form.With a wealth of an experienced coaching staff, Civics have put Namibia’s name on the African football map by progressing to the second round of the competition.Tigers were the only other team to have done so.Civics, one of the few clubs in the country that compensate players on a monthly basis, has to spend thousands of dollars on travelling and it will be no different when they are expected to visit Abidjan in just over a week’s time.The entry into the second round is a major achievement for the club and the country in a competition which has been dominated by teams such as Enyimba from Nigeria, Asante Kotoko from Ghana, Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Al-Ahly from EgyptThe ‘Civilians’ are expected to be welcomed by their ardent supporters when they touch down at the Hosea International Airport this afternoon, a gesture from their fans that they are proud of the achievement, while hoping that they will make it far in the competition.Civics qualified for the second round for the first time in its history since it was formed in 1983, but tasted football in the same competition when they played against South Africa’s SuperSport United in 2004.The side, which has relatively young players ranging from 20 to 25 years of age, became the first team to have blasted four goals past Angolan league champions Sagrada Esperanca at the Independence Stadium in the competition.Civics striker William Chilufya also became the first player to have scored a hat-trick against the Angolan side, while midfielder Heinrich Isaacs also became the first player to score away in Angola against the same side in the competition.Civics are now facing a tall order, as they will face Ivorian league champions ASEC Mamosas who swept aside East End Lions from Sierra Leone by winning with a 7-0 aggregate.ASEC Mamosas won their first-leg match 4-0 in Freetown, before thumping the Lions 3-0 in Abidjan at the weekend.Civics will travel to Abidjan on the weekend of March 17 to 19 to fulfil their first-leg obligations, before hosting the West Africans between March 31 and April 2 at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek.ASEC Mamosas is one of the biggest clubs in that country and current Chelsea hitman Didier Drogba started his playing career with them before making it big in the European leagues.The most feared players for ASEC Mamosas are Emmanuel Umoh, Me Diomande and Vincent Ali N’Dri, who all hit the target in their two matches against East End Lions.Despite that, Civics also has its own ammunition in striker Chilufya, while his efforts are greatly complemented by his reliable midfielders like Congo Hindjou, Jamunovandu Ngatjizeko, Rudi Louw and Henrich Isaacs.Civics, who are currently topping the domestic league, have been consistent in most of their performances and last season only lost one match from a total of 30 in the premiership.This season, Civics have lost one match from their 11 matches so far and are destined to scoop the league title for the second time, judging from their current form.With a wealth of an experienced coaching staff, Civics have put Namibia’s name on the African football map by progressing to the second round of the competition.Tigers were the only other team to have done so.Civics, one of the few clubs in the country that compensate players on a monthly basis, has to spend thousands of dollars on travelling and it will be no different when they are expected to visit Abidjan in just over a week’s time.The entry into the second round is a major achievement for the club and the country in a competition which has been dominated by teams such as Enyimba from Nigeria, Asante Kotoko from Ghana, Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Al-Ahly from Egypt