Lupopo coach and captain make honest admission about SA football
Saint Eloi Lupopo coach Mohamed Magassouba and captain Issifou Bourahana have made an honest admission about the level of South African football.
Lupopo were beaten 3-1 by Sekhukhune United in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round first leg match at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
The score could have been worse if it was not for the missed chances by the home side. Sekhukhune is also the second side to take on Lupopo in the same competition in recent times.
Last season, they were knocked out by Marumo Gallants after finishing third in Group A.
Magassouba was full of praise for the South African side after the match and admitted the DStv Premiership level is superior.
WHAT THE SAINT ELOI LUPOPO COACH SAID ABOUT SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
“When a South African team plays in the first division [DStv Premiership] it means they are good. We respect South African teams because they have very good and skillful players and do their best to get results. So we came here with respect for them,” he said.
WHERE THE DRC CLUB LOST THE ENCOUNTER
“Regarding the game itself, you saw that the free kicks that they received were sometimes unfortunate. So we could have done better in terms of handling that.
“Unfortunately, we were not in the game that’s why we made those mistakes but the most important thing is to forget the game and focus on what is coming. If they scored three goals here, nothing can -prevent them from doing the same in Kinshasa.
Meanwhile, club captain Issifou Bourahana has also shared the same sentiments.
“I also agree with the coach. competition in CAF competition are at different levels and these competitions require more concentration and more work.
“So we have to work when we face these hardworking teams such as Sekhukhune. They are a very good team, they know how the CAF competition is different from the local league.”
The two teams will take on each other on 1 October in Kinshasa.
RELATED STORY: Sekhukhune outclass Eloi Lupopo in Confed Cup encounter