Bendel Insurance midfielder Kelly Kester Oahimije says it is not impossible for his side to overcome ASO Chlef of Algeria in their CAF Confederation Cup encounter this weekend.
Kester who made his debut for his hometown club Bendel Insurance in the first leg encounter of the Insurance vs ASO Chlef tie is one of few Insurance players who have multiple experience playing on the continent.
The Benin Arsenals take a 1-0 lead to the preliminary round second leg match this weekend in Algeria and it seems like a pretty much slender lead to take into North Africa. However, Kester remains bullish ahead of that daunting task.
“With football, nothing is impossible. I think inexperience played a bit part in our inability to score more goals in the first leg. However we are going to Algeria with a positive mindset and attitude to get a positive result,” the towering midfielder told www.aclsports.com on Wednesday.
The Bendel Insurance squad left Benin City on Wednesday afternoon as they begin their journey to North Africa and they were seen off at the airport by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
His Excellency, @GovernorObaseki was on hand to bid us farewell and boost confidence in us as we jet out of Benin en route to Lagos where we will connect our flight to Algiers.
Go and get the victory, he charges the team#CAFCC#ASCBIN
Adaaaaaaaa BENDEL! pic.twitter.com/AM6lBJya7r
— Bendel Insurance FC Official (@BendelInsurance) August 23, 2023Having represented clubs like Enyimba and Akwa United in CAF continental fixtures in the past including experiences in North Africa, Kelly Kester is one of the experienced players that Insurance head coach Monday Odigie can count on.
Kester who came on in the second half of the first leg clash at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City last Saturday says his team are well prepared for the test.
“I think we have a few of us in the team that have played at this level before so we will be in Algiers to guide our teammates through. We are well prepared and focused as a team with the mindset of going there to get a positive result,’ added Kester.
The team will leave the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Thursday for onward journey to Algiers, Algeria. The return leg fixture has been scheduled for the Salem Mabrouki Stadium, Rouiba near Algiers at 8:30pm local time on Saturday, 26th August, 2023.
