NAIROBI, July 31 -- Kenya's Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr is certain his side will weather the storm and qualify for the quarterfinals of the CAF Confederations Cup.
Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, the coach of the Kenyan Premier League champions said he has a strong team that will withstand the pressure but warned it will be a tough task to remain at the top of their group.
Gor Mahia leads Group D of the CAF Confederations Cup with eight points. They are tied with USM Alger of Algeria but top the group due to a superior goal difference. Rwanda's Rayon Sport is third with three points while Tanzania's Yanga are bottom of the group with just a point.
Only the top two teams in each of the four groups will qualify for the quarterfinals. "We target to make something big out of this team; to beat the entire continent. That will require discipline and determination. We have to remain united and strong," said Kerr.
Besides the determination to conquer Africa, qualification to the quarterfinals will also increase Gor Mahia's earnings.
CAF announced it will pay 270,000 U.S. dollars to all clubs that make it to the group stage of the competition. There will be an additional 80,000 dollars should they make it to the quarterfinals.
The last four teams will be assured of 450,000 dollars while the Confederation of African Football will award the winner 1.25 million dollars and a chance to meet the winner of the CAF Champions League.
"We are going to be stretched to the limit because we have a small squad but I have confidence the players will withstand the pressure of playing after every three days. We just need to stay injury free, remain focused and must be very careful. With luck and good recovery, the results will be good," said Kerr.
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