Berekum Chelsea coach hails fighting spirit

Berekum Chelsea coach Hans van der Plyum says his side displayed great tenacity to dispatch Zamalek 3-2 on Saturday in their CAF Champions League Group B opener.

Chelsea twice came from behind to beat the five-time African champions at the Accra Sports Stadium with striker Emmanuel Clottey scoring a hat-trick.


Burkinabe striker Abdoulaye Cisse opened the scoring for the visitors on the 21st minute mark but striker Clottey restored parity five minutes later with a diving header.


Clottey had to rise to occasion again as he raced to collect a through-pass from Gladson Awako to plant the ball home to make it 2-2.


Chelsea sealed the win when Clottey coolly finished off the game in the 91st minute mark.

"I think in the first ten to 15 minutes we could have scored two or three times if we had been more patient but unfortunately we didn't take our chances," the Dutchman said.


"I watched their videos for five hours before the match so we really knew their style of play.


"I think in the second half we put more pressure and scored two fantastic goals." he added.


Chelsea next assignment will be against former champions TP Mazembe on July 21