Gerald Phiri’s Al Hilal ready for CAF Champions League ‘big boys’
Al Hilal midfielder Gerald Phiri Jnr believes they are more than capable of outplaying the ‘big boys’ in the CAF Champions League group stages this season.
The Sudanese giants have been drawn alongside Mamelodi Sundowns, Al Ahly of Egypt and Coton Sport from Cameroon in group B.
AL HILAL LAST SEASON’S CAF PERFORMANCES
Al Hilal finished third in Group A which had Sundowns, Ahly and their domestic rivals Al Merrikh in Group A of the CAF Champions League last season.
The only victory of their six matches came against Al Merrikh as Phiri’s team failed to beat both African football giants Sundowns and Al Ahly.
But Phiri Jnr says they have the experience of battling it out with the big boys this year.
“Yeah. We are all happy to get such teams (in the same group),” Phiri Jnr told FARPost.
“But at the end of the day, it’s all about qualification to the knockout stage. As a team, there were a lot of reinforcement this year so we are hoping to do well,” he said.
PHIRI JNR ON FACING MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
“Of course, it’s a plus (to be drawn against Mamelodi Sundowns). I know the team, we also played them last season, so a lot of the guys know them.
“It’s a big plus for us and I think we have got experience because we have also played Al Ahly who are a big team.
“So we are amongst the big boys, it’s going to be a challenge but we are hopeful and we know we can do better than what we did last season.”
Phiri Jnr has been out of action for a while now after suffering from an achilles tendon injury four months ago. He is expected to be back in action in January.
He has missed the first 10 matches of the Sudan Premier League. Al Hilal are on top of the log with 30 points.
The 29-year-old played in South Africa’s topflight for teams such as Baroka Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits.
“Sudan has been great but I have been out with an injury so I have not played this season,” said Phiri Jnr.
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