Bibiani GoldStars captain Yakubu Haqq says this year's pre-season preparations are far more advanced than in any of the club's previous campaigns, as they brace for a historic debut in the CAF Champions League.
The 30-year-old centre-back believes this heightened level of readiness is crucial for GoldStars, who qualified for Africa's premier club competition after clinching their first-ever Ghana Premier League title last season. "It's a tough task, which you need to prepare very well for, because we, being champions in Ghana, are going to face champions elsewhere," Haqq told Joy Sports. "So each game you're in, you need to tell yourself you're playing against a champion, which I think is why this time our preparation is ahead of the previous seasons I know of GoldStars." Haqq's comments reflect the ambition within the GoldStars camp as they prepare to test themselves against some of the continent's strongest clubs.
The team has already bolstered its squad with a number of new signings across all departments.
The Miners are expected to intensify their build-up in the coming weeks as they await the CAF draw on August 12, which will determine their opponents for the preliminary round of the competition.
