Kaizer Chiefs youngster Asanele Velebayi is heading into the deep end of continental football this weekend, admitting that his first trip to Egypt for the CAF Confederation Cup (CAFCC) has him feeling both nervous and excited.
The 22-year-old winger and his Amakhosi teammates face a crucial Group D opener against Al Masry this Sunday at the Suez Stadium (18:00 kickoff).
Velebayi was candid about the gravity of the assignment. “Obviously, it’s a huge moment for me to be traveling in Africa, to Egypt, for the first time,” he told club media, confirming that he expects a “difficult game” based on their preparations.
He is relying on the collective experience of the squad to manage the pressure of the new environment:
“To be honest, personally, I’m a little bit nervous but we have players who have experienced playing at this level before, whom I trust to share their knowledge of what to expect.”
The winger’s performance will be key as Chiefs navigate a challenging Group D that also features two-time CAFCC champions Zamalek and Zambia’s Zesco United, as the club seeks to break a long-standing drought of reaching the knockout rounds.
