Soccer News of Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Source: GNA

Stars coach predicts difficult task against Angola

(From William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent in Luanda, Angola, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)

Luanda, Angola, Jan. 20, GNA - Black Stars head coach, Milovan Rajevic has predicted a tough battle against host nation Angola in the quarter finals of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, January 25 at the 11th November Sports Stadium in Luanda.

"It is not going to be an easy assignment both psychologically and physically because the Angolans are a very good side with a lot of excellent players.

"They will have over 40,000 fans out of the 50,000 capacity stadium backing them on the day of the match with the whole nation as well and we have to prepare for that". The coach stated in a post match interview.

The coach, however, indicated that he has a fair idea of the Angolan side having played them in a friendly match a few weeks before the start of the competition.

"I know them very well and they are capable of causing havoc because their performance in the competition so far suggests that, and they have a strong bench as compared to ours.

"But luckily for us we have some time on hand to prepare adequately for the match, we also have very good chances of winning". Coach Rajevic added that.

Coach Rajevic is confident of using the few days ahead to sharpen his tactics before taking on the host nation on Sunday, adding that they have to work on the level of concentration of the team.

He said the Black Stars lost concentration in the dying minutes of the game against Burkina Faso hence their messing up of several scoring chances which could have seen them winning by a wider margin.

Coach Rajevic was confident the team will lift up their game against Angola to secure victory in a bid to sustain his dream of being the first expatriate trainer to lead Ghana to a Nations Cup triumph. Commenting on the game against Burkina Faso to GNA Sports, the coach said he played with a very formidable Burkinabe side with strong players who are good at set pieces but it was gratifying that his side approached the game with a well rehearsed strategy and this worked in their favour with the lone goal creating the difference. "It was an important goal because that was what sent us to the next stage of the competition", he added.