Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
FC Istiklol kick off their 2016 AFC Cup campaign against Jordan’s Al Faisaly on Tuesday with coach Mubin Ergashev setting his sights on a place in the knockout rounds following the club’s impressive run to the final of last year’s competition.
The Tajikistan champions succumbed to Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim in the deciding match of last year’s competition, but Ergashev (pictured) is refusing to look too far into the future ahead of what will be his team’s first competitive fixture of the season.
“We will begin the new season tomorrow,” he said. “I invite all of our fans to come to the stadium and we will try to give our best on the field and give them a victory as well as good football.
“We always have a top target but the first aim is to qualify to the next stage. We will come up with new targets from game-to-game.
“We believe in our possibilities but we respect Al Faisaly. We haven’t played any official games and that may create a little problem for us.
“We have watched four or five matches of our opponents and their game style is excellent. But I think we will be able to beat them.
“We have new players and I think they will adapt to our team quickly, because I know them from national team.”
Al Faisaly go into the game in some turmoil after Rateb Al Awadat was removed from his position as head coach, with Firas Al Khalil taking over on an interim basis
But the new man at the helm is targeting a win to help soothe the club’s current issues.
“We came here to take the three points,” said Al Khalil. “We have won this tournament twice - in 2005 and 2006 – and we want to win it a third time this season.
“We have a couple of problems with squad. Murillo Rivas is not fully ready to play and Vieira Dos Santos was injured few days ago. I think there will be good battle among Istiklol, Naft Al Wasat and our team.
“We respect Istiklol, they have a strong team. They have good players, but we are also a well-balanced team. I hope we can play well without a head coach.”
In the other game in Group B, Nafit Al Wasat coach Hamza El Gamal is hoping that playing his side’s ‘home’ encounter with Tripoli from Lebanon in the Iranian capital Tehran will not have a negative effect on his team as they start their AFC Cup challenge.
“The first game is always very important and we have reviewed the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents. We have our strategy to win this game,” El Gamal said.
“My team is Iraqi Premier League champions and we deserve to be here, competing at continental level. I have worked hard on my team over the last two years and I’m confident that my players will give a good performance in the first step of this season’s AFC Cup tomorrow against Tripoli.
“Although we are going to play in Tehran as neutral venue, we have to take the three points as we are considered the hosts in tomorrow’s game. I would like to ask the Iraqi fans residing in Iran to come to the stadium to support us and I hope they will see a wonderful game.”
Tripoli return to the AFC Cup for the first time since 2004 and fitness coach Ahmad Ayas - who attended the pre-match press conference in place of head coach Nizar Mahrous - knows all about the challenge facing his team in the meeting with the Iraqi champions.
“We have a difficult game tomorrow against Nafit Al Wasat as they are a very strong side with a couple of great players,” Ayas said. “But I believe in my squad and we will try our best on the pitch.
“We are drawn in a very tough group alongside Istiklol, Al Faisaly and Nafit Al Wasat, but this is not an excuse as I want my players to win every single game. We are here to take the three points and return home with an achievement. We are all determined to make a strong start in the AFC Cup.”
Photo: Lagardere Sports