Kariobangi Sharks look to swim far in Confederation Cup

Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Sven Yidah has backed his side to storm the group stages of the Caf Africa Confederation Cup in their debut season.

This despite a tough trip to west Africa standing in the way of the inexperienced Kenyan outfit that qualified to represent the country in the continent’s second-tier club championship after winning the FKF SportPesa Shield last month.

The Confederation of African Football have drawn the youthful Sharks against fellow debutants, Djibouti’s Arta Solar in the preliminary stage.

The first of this two-leg clash will be played at Moi International Sports Centre on Tuesday with the return leg in Djibouti City a week later.

Should Sharks progress to the first round, they will face either Ghana’s Asante Kotoko or a Cameroonian side that had yet to be named by Caf.

“We have decided to target the group stages of the competition,” said Yidah, a defensive midfielder.

“Of course that task will not be easy, but then there is no straightforward thing in life. We are planning and preparing to give our very best and then find out how the situation develops.”

Besides Yidah, Sharks will be looking at 2018 Kenya Premier League top scorer Eric Kapaito, mercurial winger James Mazembe, playmaker Patillah Omotto and reserve Harambee Stars keeper Jeff Oyemba, when the little know Djiboutis come calling.

Sharks CEO Linda Ambiyo says the team is excited about this new challenge.

“We don’t know much about our opponents or even Djibouti football but I do not expect many surprises,” she said.