We need to put everything in order for us to progress – Pasuwa

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets said his team will need to put everything in if they are to book a ticket to Democratic Republic of Congo as facing unknown opponents always becomes a tough task.

The Great Kali was reacting to the 2023-24 TotalEnergies Caf Champions League draw that was conducted in Egypt on Tuesday afternoon.

The people’s team have been paired against Equatorial Guinea’s side, Dragon FC and they will travel for their first leg game before playing a game at Bingu National Stadium a week later.

“We need to put everything for us to sail through [because] these are unknown opponents that we don’t know more about,” said the Tactician.

“We don’t need to underestimate them because it will be tough for us. It is a collective responsibility, ranging from the Management to supporters.”

Dragon FC last appeared in the international stage back in 2010 and they lost 7-2 on aggregate to
Athlétic Club Léopards de Dolisie is a football (soccer) club from the Republic of Congo based in Dolisie, Niari Department.

They have two trophies in their rockers. They won the League in 1983 before winning the cup in 2009.

Pasuwa said playing the international games before the start of the season and the friendly game against Yanga might have given the boys a taste and experience of the international game.

“To the boys, we have been there. We played Yanga FC in a friendly game, they know what it takes to perform at an international game.

“We played some of the teams from Mozambique at the start of the season and these boys saw how Champions League games were played,” added Pasuwa.

The 16-time Super League Champions who reached the historical group stage in the 2004 season, have had problems when participating in the Caf Champions League as of late, being booted out of the tournament prematurely five times.

They lost Kenyan side, Gor Mahia, South Africa’s Amazulu FC, Zimbabwe’s Platnum FC, and last season they bowed out of the competition after a drubbing 4-0 defeat to Simba SC on aggregate.

Pasuwa said lack of consistency in building the team has always been a problem as he rebuilds a team every year.

“We are always bringing youngsters to the team year in, year out. If there was a consistency to say we play Patrick Mwangulu who played in the last two to three years, it would have been better. [For example] we had some whom we used when playing Simba SC [last year] and are longer with us.”

The winners in the First Preliminary Round will face the five time Champions, TP Mazembe in the second round of the qualifying games.