Namibian football champions African Stars FC will face Vipers Sport Club (SC) tactician head coach Jacky Minnaert in the September Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League first preliminary round.
The ‘Okaserandu Folklore’ has had two previous short stints in the continental qualifiers failing to progress beyond the preliminary rounds of the qualifiers, but that has not stopped African Stars FC from signing Lesotho-born Bob Mafoso in their quest to have a solid footprint in this year’s champions league campaign.
In July this year, Vipers SC contracted and unveiled experienced Belgian tactician Minnaert (58) as the new head coach on a permanent basis.
The coach has secured on a long-term contract at the club.
He will be assisted by the duo of John ‘Ayala’ Luyinda and Fred Muhumuza, who were in charge of the team in the 2024/25 season.
The two, who guided the Vipers to a domestic double, will stay on as assistants, working closely with the new gaffer.
African Stars FC have not yet officially unveiled their new signings, and it is yet to be seen if head coach Mafoso will be deputised by the evergreen assistant coach Benni Haoseb.
The Debmarine Premiership champions will have a pre-season CAF champions league four-nations tournament from 23 to 24 August at Independence Stadium against Petro de Luanda (Angola), Lioli FC (Lesotho) and Young Africans SC (Tanzania).
Minnaert joins from Liberian Premier League outfit Fassell FC, which he guided to the championships last season, beating the nearest opponent, Heaven Eleven FC, by 11 points.
Previously, he also worked with Libyan top-flight outfit Al-ttihad Tripoli, which he helped to the championship in the 2020/21 campaign.
Among the other teams he managed include Union Estepona CF and CD San Roque in Spain, Malian side Djoliba AC, Kenya’s AFC Leopards and Rwanda Premier League side Rayon Sport FC across two separate spells.
His African experience has also seen him manage in Guinea Conakry at AS Kaloum Star, at Rwanda’s Mukura Victory FC, and at South African side Black Leopards FC.
Minnaert also holds a Union of European Football Associations Pro Licence, which is the highest coaching qualification.
African Stars FC mentor Mafoso on the other hand has a CAF A License and was the assistant coach of the Lesotho senior national team.
The Lesotho-born coached among others Bantu FC, Lioli FC and the national under-20 men’s team.
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