Malian soccer club eyes motorbikes as potential key to CAF Cup triumph
Djoliba Motivates Players with Motorbikes Aiming for Confederation Cup Victory
Football clubs in West African countries often struggle to afford the purchase and running of cars for their players, making transportation a significant challenge. However, Bamako club Djoliba has found an innovative solution to this problem by gifting motorbikes to their players as a means to improve their performance in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The motorbikes, presented to 21 players, are to be used exclusively for arriving early to matches and training, not for social or commercial purposes. This financial incentive is hoped to help Djoliba emulate past successes in the competition, where they were runners-up in 2012, and face tough challenges advancing through qualifying stages.
Djoliba's ultimate goal is to win the Confederation Cup, and they will first have to get past African debutants Abia Warriors, who finished third in the Nigerian Premier Football League, in the qualifying stage. Should they succeed, they will advance to the group phase of the competition and potentially face off against clubs like Zamalek of Egypt, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, USM Alger, and Chabab Belouizdad, who could succeed Berkane in the tournament.
The Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League, has historically been dominated by clubs from North African countries, with 17 out of 22 editions won by clubs from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, or Tunisia. The prize money progressively rises to $2mn for the winners of the competition, with each club that qualifies for the mini-leagues receiving $400,000.
In a significant increase from last season, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is giving $100,000 to qualifying-phase losers in the upcoming campaign. Last May, Berkane won the Confederation Cup with a 3-1 overall victory over Simba of Tanzania, but they will not be able to defend their title due to their participation in the CAF Champions League.
Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia have won three titles each in the Confederation Cup, and Djoliba aims to emulate arch rivals Stade, who won the Confederation Cup three years earlier. If successful in the qualifying stage and the group phase, Djoliba could potentially face off against these powerhouses in the competition.
While the direct causal impact on match results is not detailed, this financial incentive aligns with efforts to strengthen team commitment and logistics, potentially contributing positively to Djoliba's CAF Confederation Cup campaigns by fostering better preparation and reducing excuses related to transportation. This creative approach is an example of how clubs with limited resources seek innovative methods to enhance their competitiveness on the continental stage.
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