By Allan Williams
Platinum Stars of South Africa have come under fire from coach Miguel Gamondi ahead of an African Confederation Cup qualifier against title holders CS Sfaxien in Tunisia this weekend.
The Argentine remains furious that international rookies Stars surrendered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with far more experienced opponents two weeks ago in the first leg of a fourth round tie.
Goals from 'Simba' Marumo and Dingaan Masanabo set up the'Tycoons' for a shock win only to let 'Juventus' off the hook as careless defending allowed Ghanaian Opoku Agyemang and Chaker Bargaoui to score.
"Most of my players have no character and this is a challenge facing all South African football clubs," widely travelled Gamondi told the Platinum website.
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"Stars lack the mental strength to compete in Africa. When you face a big club like Sfaxien there is no room for sleeping. They will intimidate us in Tunisia and try to snatch an early goal," he warned.
Sfaxien squeezed into the final qualifying round of the second-tier African Football Confederation competition modelled on the European Uefa Cup through victories over JSM Bejaia of Algeria and Linguere of Senegal.
But they will be confident of eliminating star-less Platinum on Saturday having trounced much stronger South African club Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 en route to Confederation Cup glory last year.
Hyper-ambitious Sundowns are also in North Africa this weekend, defending a 1-0 advantage over paramilitary club Harras al-Hodoud of Egypt in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria on Saturday.
Towering Lungisani Ndlela, the Peter Crouch of South African football, scored the winner and he could hold the key as the well drilled Egyptians struggled to combat his aerial threat in Pretoria.
There are five former African champions in contention for eight group places with at least one casualty certain as Esperance confront Etoile Sahel in the all-Tunisia highlight of the fixtures.
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