Pirates will tackle little known AS Kaloum at the Stade Modibo Keita in Bamako, Mali (19h00 SA time) in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup play-offs, with the match being play in neighbouring Mali due to Ebola virus concerns in Conakry, where ASK are based.
Oluwafemi – who has played for Jomo Cosmos, Platinum Stars and University of Pretoria in his time in the PSL – is now turning out for Zambian champions ZESCO United, the club that ASK defeated 5-4 on penalties in the first round of the CAF Champions League before they dropped down to the Confederation Cup after defeat to USM Alger of Algeria.
The 27-year-old has first-hand experience of what playing against ASK is all about and has advice for Bucs whose coach Eric Tinkler moaned about being in the dark about the club when the draw was done 10 days ago.
“They [ASK] are a typical West African team whose game revolves around playing physical as they have the physique to compliment that kind of style. So it will best for Pirates to stay away from tackles and any unnecessary physical battles because they (ASK) will win all those,” Oluwafemi tells snl24.com/kickoff from Zambia.
“Though I believe Pirates should prevail over the two legs I have to warn them that they should expect a challenge because ASK can also play and have quality despite the fact that they sluggish. Those guys believe in power and depend on set-pieces because they are big, so conceding set-pieces in their own half will be dangerous for Pirates.
“What should give Pirates the edge is their pace and the fact that they can move the ball around much quicker than most African teams that I have seen. The fact that Pirates are starting away will help them because they will avoid the situation of being robbed through some questionable officiating. We were the better team when we played them but were just unfortunate that we couldn’t kill off the contest at home when we blew away many chances.”
ASK are now under a new coach in Frenchman Hugo Cabouret following the axing of Ivorian Francois Zahoui after the recent defeat to USM.
The club is considered ambitious with their owner Aboubacar Sampil an influential businessman in West Africa.