LENS, France, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Ambitious RC Lens will primarily bank on their African players, and particularly on their Senegalese, in the chase for the French title when they visit Bastia in their season's opening match on Saturday.
No less than 10 players of the squad are from African
countries including Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal.
'We have picked up this option because they are guys who are
not afraid to bend over backwards when they play,' said coach
Joel Muller.
'For equivalent skills and experience, they are half the
price of an European player,' he said. 'We can field two guys
for every position on the pitch and most of them have
experienced football at the highest level.'
Senegal created one the biggest sensations in the World
Cup's history when they beat holders France 1-0 in the opening
match of the tournament on their first appearance.
While France were eliminated in the first round without a
single goal scored, the African players reached the
quarter-finals, bowing out to Turkey 1-0 on a golden goal.
Even if they have lost their prolific goalmaker El-Hadji
Diouf who has joined Premier League side Liverpool during the
summer break, Lens look a strong side and one of the favourites
in the 20-side league.
GOOD START
Cameroon team captain Rigobert Song expressed confidence but
also underlined Lens will need a good start after losing the
title to Olympique Lyon in a dramatic finish last season.
'We are going to Bastia with the will to win,' Song said.
'It's always better to gather confidence early in the year.
'If things don't turn out well, there is a risk that it mars
the atmosphere in the squad and it can be dangerous for the rest
of the season,' he said.
RC Lens retained the leading spot in the French league table
for more than 20 matches last season before Lyon snatched the
crown on the last day.
'It's crucial not to lose the first match,' said Muller. 'A
season can be decided on very tiny details. But I will wait for
the first six days to have more of an clue.
'We will have a good idea next month about what we can aim
at. We will have a much more accurate picture about our
strengths and our weaknesses.'
RC Lens are to take part in the lucrative Champions League,
an event they have only played in once after winning the 1998
French title.
For Saturday's match, Lens will only be missing Senegal's
Zoumana Camara who is nursing a groin injury.
- NEWS
