Despite fielding a relatively young squad, Renaissance Sportive de Berkane (RS Berkane) is motivating its players with substantial bonuses as they prepare for the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final this Sunday against Zamalek of Cairo. The club hopes to secure a decisive advantage at home before traveling to Egypt for the return leg.
RS Berkane boasts several key assets heading into the showdown. The experienced Burkinabé midfielder Alain Traoré and his compatriot, young striker Djibril Ouattara, provide both leadership and attacking options. The team also relies heavily on Togolese star Kodjo Laba, the Moroccan league’s top scorer with 18 goals this season. Laba, a 30-cap Togolese international with 11 goals, has been in outstanding form during his three years at Berkane. “It’s all about hard work. We have a quality group with a great atmosphere. We get along well, and I’m lucky to score thanks to my teammates who give me good passes, but the team is the most important thing for me. Individual performances come second,” he told libe.ma.
This season marks a historic campaign for RS Berkane, as the club has reached a continental cup final for the first time in its history. Laba emphasized the team’s unity as their greatest strength: “If we reached the final, it’s precisely to win the Cup. Our main strength is the harmony within the team. Then there’s the staff and the coach who are doing a remarkable job.”
RS Berkane has become a regular in the Confederation Cup over recent years. Last season, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by AS Vita Club of Congo, but this year, the team has surged impressively. They topped their group ahead of Congolese side Hassania Agadir and Moroccan rivals Raja Casablanca, defeated Kenya’s Gor Mahia 7-1 on aggregate, and staged a remarkable comeback against Sfaxien, overturning a 2-0 first-leg loss with a 3-0 victory at home.
With just a few weeks remaining on his contract, Laba remains fully committed to Berkane. He dismissed any talk of a transfer, stating, “As I always say, the most important thing for me is to keep working, and I leave it to God to decide. I’m an RS Berkane player and proud of the orange color.” His dedication, along with the team’s cohesion and talent, sets the stage for what promises to be a competitive and historic final for the Moroccan side.
