Rwandan international Joy-Lance Mickels is poised to realise a childhood ambition when Azerbaijani champions Sabah face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the opening round of the Champions League league phase on Thursday.
The 32-year-old striker, who grew up supporting the English giants, is expected to lead Sabah’s attack in the 20:00 BST encounter.
Mickels described the fixture as the ideal draw for his club, saying playing at Old Trafford would make the occasion even more memorable.
The Germany-born forward has played a key role in Sabah’s historic qualification for the competition, scoring four goals during their qualifying campaign.
Sabah, established only nine years ago, overcame four two-legged rounds before securing their place in the main tournament.
Mickels scored the decisive goal in their play-off victory over Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva, helping the Azerbaijani outfit progress 6-4 on aggregate after the tie went into extra time.
The attacker said the club’s achievement represented a significant milestone, but insisted the team would travel to England with ambitions beyond simply experiencing the atmosphere.
Mickels began his professional career in Germany’s lower divisions before spells in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
He initially joined Sabah in 2021 and returned to the club two years ago.
His career, he said, had involved several challenges and different destinations, with each experience contributing to his development.
Eligible to play for Rwanda through his parents, Mickels made his international debut for the Wasps in March.
His appearance against Manchester United would make him the first Rwandan player to feature in the Champions League league phase.
He said representing his ancestral country at European football’s highest level was particularly meaningful and expressed hope that his journey would encourage young players in Rwanda to pursue their ambitions.
Sabah’s Champions League schedule also includes meetings with former winners Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona.
Because their home venue does not satisfy UEFA requirements, the club is expected to host those matches at Baku’s Olympic Stadium.
The Azerbaijani champions will also return to England for their final league-phase fixture against reigning Premier League champions Arsenal.
Mickels acknowledged the quality of the opposition but said Sabah would approach every game with determination.
He enjoyed an outstanding domestic campaign last season, scoring 19 goals as Sabah secured their first-ever Azerbaijani league championship.
Despite recognising their underdog status in Europe, the forward believes reaching the tournament proper gives the squad an opportunity to challenge themselves against elite opposition, collect valuable points and create lasting memories for their supporters.
Sabah manager Valdas Dambrauskas also has an unusual route into football, having reportedly used money won from appearing on the Lithuanian edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to help build his coaching career.
Mickels said Sabah’s objective was to make their European adventure competitive rather than merely celebratory, adding that the team hoped to make every opponent work hard for results.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong