Dreams FC boss Abdul Karim Zito is rallying supporters of Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak to fill the stadium as his team prepares for their crucial second leg encounter with Zamalek in the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup semifinal.
The Ghanaian side will be trading tackles with the Egyptian giants on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
With Zito’s men managing a goalless draw last week in the first leg in Egypt, the team is banking hopes on home support to edge the former champions.
Emphasising the broader significance of the match beyond Dreams FC, Zito appealed to fans of Kotoko and Hearts to support Dreams FC, highlighting the collective effort to restore Ghana’s prominence in African inter-club competitions.
“This is not about Dreams, it’s about Ghana. We are fighting hard to bring back the slots we lost. The fans of both Kotoko and Hearts should come and support us because we are building something for them to come and enjoy later,” Zito told Akoma Sports.
Dreams FC coach Karim Zito speaks to the press ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup semis game against Zamalek.#3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/XxKhULSVCe
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) April 27, 2024
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Expressing the team’s readiness for all scenarios, including a potential penalty shootout, Coach Zito disclosed that they had concluded their training sessions with penalty drills to ensure preparedness for any eventuality.
“We ended with penalty shootouts, and only three out of twenty-four players could not score. So, we are ready if it gets to penalties. Let me say that we are hoping to secure qualification in regulation time,” Zito remarked.
To mobilise a significant turnout, Dreams FC announced free entry to all stands except for the VIP and VVIP areas for the highly anticipated match at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
“I stay with where I can control. We need the number 12 player. Whether the fans are present or not present, we are focused” – Karim Zito added.
With Dreams FC aiming to make history as the first Ghanaian side to reach the CAF Confederation Cup final in two decades, the match against Zamalek holds immense importance.
The much-anticipated fixture kicks off at 4 pm Ghana time.