Dubai: Al Nasr striker Jires Kembo Ekoko is confident the Blue Wave can continue their unprecedented Asian Champions League run away to his old side El Jaish of Qatar in Wednesday’s quarter-final first leg from 8pm UAE time.
The Oud Metha outfit are on their best Asian run in three appearances after qualifying from the group for the first time and edging Iran’s Tractor Sazi 5-4 on aggregate in the Last 16.
They are now fighting to make the last four in a competition that has only once been won by a UAE club (Al Ain in 2003).
Ekoko spent a season on loan at El Jaish from Al Ain in 2013/14, but any feelings he has for his old club are on hold until after September 14’s second leg.
“We have to go there with confidence, because if you go into the match without confidence it is better you stay home,” said the French former Stade Rennais forward. “This period is good. We are working hard every day to be ready.
“The Champions League is always difficult — no game is the same. That’s why we must go there with the same fight as we showed last season and show our power on this day.
“We have a lot of targets this season but the most important is El Jaish, to make a very good camp and be ready for the return of Champions League games.”
Ekoko was retained along with Burkinabe midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa over the summer, while Brazilian forward Nilmar and Chilean midfielder Luis Jimenez have made way for Brazilian striker Wanderley Santos from Sharjah and Moroccan midfielder Abdul Aziz Barrada from Marseille.
Al Nasr chairman Humaid Al Tayer recently said stability had been key to the club’s success, especially with the retention of Serbian coach Ivan Jovanovic, who ended the club’s 25-year wait for honours with the GCC Champions League title in 2014, followed by last year’s Arabian Gulf Cup and President’s Cup double.
“We are currently looking to improve the club after reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time in our history,” he said. “I stress that these results are the fruit of good planning and the goals set by the company.
“The stability of the team technically is one of the most important factors for success. We are very keen to preserve this system of harmony, despite making a small number of signings that are in the interest of the team, whether it’s with foreign or even local players.
“Soon we will announce an agreement with one of Europe’s most-prestigious clubs in the field of nurturing talent. This will help us improve the academy and part of the plan is to send a number of talented players to train with the club so they gain technical and mental experience of the professional arena.”
