With the inaugural CAF Super League set to get underway in August, Zimbabwe icon Willard Katsande has revealed the brutal conditions that travelling African teams are often subjected to, including being booked into a hotel swarming with worms.
In August 2022, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that the organisation would be launching the African Super League with a staggering prize money of $100 million (R1.7 billion).
He insisted at the time that the winner of the tournament would walk away with an unprecedented sum of $11.5 million (R208 million), while each of the 24 member associations would pocket $1 million (R18 million) per annum from the competition's funds.
Read: EXCLUSIVE: SA govt reveals lessons learnt from failed R1bn Spurs deal
Katsande, who has vast experience of playing continental football, has now reflected on the challenges he often experienced while playing in the CAF Champions League and in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Speaking to KickOff, the former defensive midfielder revealed that his team was once booked into a hotel in Liberia that was swarming with worms.
"The African continent is different from Europe... like when they travel from Germany to England," the ex-Kaizer Chiefs midfielder said.
"Africa is a jungle, you get to a place where there is no electricity and instead of them fetching you when you land, they fetch you after six hours at the airport!
"I once went to Liberia [with the Zimbabwe national team] and we arrived in Monrovia at a hotel near the ocean, there were worms eating the wall and we couldn't even sleep.
"Fortunately we managed to get a result and we drew."
The former Ajax Cape Town defensive midfielder also explained that teams in Africa would often employ what he described as mind games instead of trying to win matches on the pitch.
"I think we need to focus on football because sometimes these mind games don't work and we need to learn professionalism. If you're not good, allow me to beat you so that you can put your house in order," Katsande continued.
"I remember we [Chiefs] also had a game with Simba SC in Tanzania, and I don't know what they put in the bus but we were all suddenly sleeping heading into the game."
Read: African footballer sets himself on fire
During FIFA's 73rd Congress last month, president of the world football organising body, Gianni Infantino, announced that the FIFA Club World Cup will be expanded from seven to 32 teams from 2025, which will include four teams from CAF (Wydad Casablanca and Al Ahly have already qualified).
Katsande has praised this ground-breaking expansion, believing it will boost the level of players and the quality of football in Africa.
"I think it's a great decision because previously teams from Europe just win the UEFA Champions League, go to the Club World Cup and play one game and they are in the final. Now we have a big number to represent our continent and I think that gives the tournament more eyes and I think we can now all enjoy it more," the former Warriors captain added.
"Another thing is that African players will have more exposure than before in the tournament and this improves their chances of breaking into those big leagues in Europe.
"It will also test how far we are in terms of African football and not just national teams.
"This is positive because with national teams, we usually see overseas-based Africans but now we will see players who play on the continent. It's a win for the continent because some of these top clubs quickly rush to South America when looking for talent.
"Now, even when these teams return to CAF Champions League football, it will be dog-eat-dog because all the teams will want a spot at the Club World Cup."
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: