The Ugandan league champions take on Algeria’s CS Constantine between December 14-16 but Martinez is not worried playing away from home in the first leg for the second consecutive time. “This is Champions League you have to be with a good strategy.
We are going to do what we did against Al Merrick. We have to score away or get a good result there. We have to start preparing for the game now.
It’s good that we shall start away and when we come back home, we can ride on the huge support from our fans,” stated Martinez after Vipers eliminated Sudan giants Al Merriekh on an away goals rule after a 2-2 draw in the second preliminary round tie Kampala on Wednesday. Abraham Ndugwa who scored Vipers only goal that edged out Al Merriekh 1-0, believes they will step up their performance before taking on the Algerians who ejected Gambian side Gamtel FC 1-0 on aggregate.
“In training sessions the coach (Martinez) always encourages us to push for more and I believe we can improve. Every goal gives me confidence as player and it adds more momentum to the team,” noted Ndugwa. A minimum of $550,000 (sh2bn) in cash prize awaits Vipers should they go past Constantine and make it to the group stages.
The cash on offer from oil giant Total has the winning team bagging $2.25m (sh8.4bn) and runner-up $1.25m (sh4.7bn). Losing semi-finalists are assured of $875,000 (sh3.3bn), quarter-finalist $675,000 (sh2.5bn) while the third and fourth placed teams in the group will each earn $550,00 (sh2bn).
