Bouaké: Former captain of the Etalons Charles Kaboré, present in Ivory Coast to support his team qualified for the 8th finals of the CAN, gives, in an interview he granted at the AIB, his advice to his younger brothers to go all the way in the competition. How did you find the performance of the Stallions in the first round of the CAN? The Stallions' performance in the first round was positive because the most important thing was to win and get out of the group stages. It must be recognized that the most important thing was achieved: it was qualification for the second round whatever the method. In which area do you think we can still make adjustments to get the team back to its former game? In a competition, changing for the sake of changing will be of no use. At all levels we must be more rigorous, more concentrated. Whether in defense, midfield and attack. A new competition begins, the direct elimination phase. It is often not the way that counts in the result. The most important thing is to qualify an d continue playing to get to the quarter-finals. It's a mini tournament that's starting and the most important thing is to be conquering, daring and careful too. Do you feel that this team as a whole is capable of going all the way in this competition? Burkina Faso can go all the way by believing in its own strength. There is no calculation to be made whether we are playing against Mali, Senegal, Egypt or any team. To get to the final you have to beat the strongest. I have confidence in our team. In 10 years we have played 3 semi-finals and a final. It's not nothing for a country like Burkina where people think that it's not a great football country. In the last 10 years our history is much more accomplished than many large countries. We therefore have to believe in our qualities and believe in our team and tell ourselves that we can do it. We can go all the way. And compared to your generation in 2013 Generations follow each other but are not alike. We are in another vintage of Les Etalons where there ar e a lot of young people. We progress from year to year. This team has a lot of potential and they need to believe in themselves because it's important to believe in themselves. The advice I have to give them is to say that we want to reach the final and we have to beat the strongest. If we don't beat the strongest, it's because we don't deserve to go to the final. We must believe in our qualities, in our strength and be united and conquering. Source: Burkina Information Agency
Menu