STELLENBOSCH FC’s players will be hoping to take some of the magic that is settled in the desert sand they enjoyed on Monday, while riding on camelback around the pyramids, with them to Cairo International Stadium where they face Zamalek in their Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final second leg on Wednesday (6pm kickoff).
With the tie deadlocked after the 0-0 draw at Cape Town Stadium last week, coach Steve Barker’s span are looking to make history by extending their maiden continental adventure.
The magnitude of Stellies’ ambition is almost as large as the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Egyptian club Zamalek have won the Caf Champions League title five times and are the current Confederation Cup champions.
They are a team that is supported fanatically by their fans, The White Knights, who are expected to transform Cairo International Stadium into a cauldron that none of Stellies’ players would have experienced before.
Barker acknowledged that the challenge facing up to the supporters is almost equally as groot as what they can expect from Zamalek’s players on the field.
Barker says: “We are all excited and looking forward to the game. As you are all well aware, it is our first campaign on the continent. To be playing a team of the calibre of Zamalek in Egypt is an honour and privilege for us.
“I must say that I’ve always had a great admiration for the passion that is shown by the fans and the passion for football in your country. Personally, I’m really excited to be able to be playing at this iconic stadium.”
Barker, however, believes that Premiership clashes against the likes of Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, whose fans often overwhelm the opposition, have prepared his team for the moerse clash.
He adds: “We want to be playing in front of big crowds. Back home, we are used to playing against teams like the Chiefs and the Pirates, who have a big crowd.
“We use the crowd to spur us on.”