AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy is hoping that the impact of having no fans, and ES Setif not playing in their normal home ground, plays into his team’s hands.
The Algerian club hosts Usuthu in the CAF Champions League on Saturday night at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962.
Usuthu are second in Group B on six points after three games, three behind leaders Raja Casablanca, and three ahead of Setif.
McCarthy says that if AmaZulu could get a win in the game, it would almost ensure their qualification to the knockout stages in their debut in the competition.
“Yes, I think without the Algerian public, it becomes more easier for us to play, because we can play our own game, the pressure is not so much,” McCarthy said at the pre-match press conference.
“Even though Setif is a very good team, and they will come with good quality football with us, but when you have 11 players against 11 players, it’s always better than when you play 11 players against 12 – because they have 11 and the fanatic(ism) and the passion of the Algerian fans, how they always can bring the best out of a team when you have your fans there.
“So them not having their fans gives us almost a level playing field, it is equal for everyone. So that will be helpful.
“But I know my team, it’s the first time for us to be in this competition, and we want to achieve something special. And if we win, tomorrow, we can almost be one foot in the qualification round already.
“So that is the aim for us, so we going to make it a spectacular game, and we’re going to go and fight for everything that we can. And we know they don’t have the fans behind them.
“And also they are not in their own stadium, they are also away from their home stadium, so it makes it more interesting for us that they don’t have the comfort of playing at their own stadium in front of their own fans. So that gives us a little bit the edge.”
