دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2010 : القرعة صـ65

من موقع أورلاندو بيراتس


Bucs take CAF Champions clash to Mandela Bay



Orlando Pirates have selected Nelson Mandela Bay stadium, in Port Elizabeth, as the home venue for the club’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League first round second leg clash against Botswana champions Gaborone United on Sunday, February 28.
The continental mother body, CAF, has given the nod to the Mighty Buccaneers and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to use this match as the highlight of the stadium's official opening ceremony, where a plaque will be unveiled.
Commenting on the latest developments, a very delighted Bucs administrative officer, Floyd Mbele, said the team is ready to take the Eastern Cape by storm.
“For us, playing in the champions league means another opportunity to represent South Africa at the highest level of African club football, but that also means our supporters in the Eastern Cape deserve a lion’s share of this campaign. That is why we decided to bring the game to the Province where there is a massive support base”, said Mbele.
According to the organisers, the game will take place on the eve of a string of events and festivities organised by the Fifa Organizing Committee to celebrate ‘100 Days to go to the World Cup’ and football lovers will be in for a nice treat.
“We are making preparations for a full-blast test event, so we will run the operational plans the same way we will do during the World Cup,” said Putco Mafani, the marketing, communications and events manager, 2010 Directorate, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
He added: “Importantly, it is the fans who will enjoy it the most, with mouthwatering entertainment lined up, give-aways, and competitions.
“We call on all South African football-loving fans to book their seats in time and be part of history as Pirates actually represent our country in this competition."
Mafani also highlighted that the people of the Eastern Cape and the Metro might secure other similar games should they impress the Buccaneers management with their attendance and vibe on the day of the match.
Team appearance
Part of the visit to the Nelson Mandela Bay by the Mighty Buccaneers and the Botswana visitors, Gaborone United, will be both teams' appearance at the Road to 2010 ‘zone 365’ community Roadshow at Ziyabuya, Kwa Dwesi, where they will sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans on Friday, February 26, at 1pm.
Tickets info
Furthermore, Orlandopiratesfc.com can verify that match tickets will cost R20 for adults and R10 for children, and will be on sale as of next Monday, February 15, at all Computicket outlets, including Shoprite and Checkers, to mention but a few.
For further enquiriesm contact:
Putco Mafani (NMBM) on 082 474 2999 or
Thandi Merafe (Orlando Pirates) on 082 761 2137.

المريخ يصل أديس أبابا وسط استقبالات حاشدة



وصلت بعثة فريق الكرة بنادي المريخ أديس أبابا العاصمة الإثيوبية في الثامنة من مساء أمس ووجدت البعثة استقبالاً حاراً لدى وصولها حيث حرص أعضاء السفارة السودانية على استقبالها، كما كان في استقبالها أيضاً محمد جعفر قريش سكرتير النادي ومتوكل أحمد علي نائب السكرتير وصديق علي صالح المدير التنفيذي وحلت البعثة بفندق هيلتون وسيجري الفريق تدريباً على الصالة صباح اليوم ويجري حصة تدريبية عصراً.. المعروف أن المريخ سيواجه سان جورج يوم الأحد المقبل في ذهاب الدور التمهيدي من دوري أبطال أفريقيا.

The long journey to continental glory, and with it a berth at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, commences for African clubs this weekend with the first leg fixtures in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

A total of 48 teams will compete in the opening stage of the competition, playing a knockout round over two legs. The aggregate winners will be joined by eight more teams in the first round next month before a third knockout round determines the eight teams for the final league phase.

For the first time, two representatives from Libya and Zimbabwe were in the draw, along with the 12 other countries that have previously enjoyed the privilege of entering more than one team. It means a stronger field for the competition, which last year was characterised by early shock defeats for the favourites and eventually won by TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Holding tight to the crown
TP Mazembe Englebert beat Heartland of Nigeria over two legs in last year’s final, claiming their third continental title almost four decades after they had last been crowned kings of African club football. Extensive investment into the club by Katanga governor Moise Katumbi has transformed Mazembe into a formidable, and now, cosmopolitan outfit. They have already begun preparations for the defence of their title by returning to Zimbabwe, the site of their pre-season camp last year in the lead-up to their triumph last November.

Mazembe, who won consecutive continental trophies in the late 60s, were given a bye for this weekend’s first round, but they await the winner of the tie between Rwanda’s APR FC and Angolan newcomers Recreativo Libolo.

Contenders for the throne
Egypt’s Al Ahly have been the dominant club in the Champions League in this millennium, winning it four times in the 2000s, but they were surprisingly eliminated on away goals by Kano Pillars of Nigeria in the final knockout round last May. However, their pedigree remains beyond doubt, and it has indeed been enhanced in recent weeks by the form of their key players while with the Egyptian national side during their winning performance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nation in Angola. Al Ahly have also been given a bye to the second round where they will take on either Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar or Gunners FC from Zimbabwe, two sides making their debut in continental club competition.

This year’s Champions League field also includes eight other former champions: ASEC Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Ismaili (Egypt), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), JS Kabylie (Algeria), Entente Setif (Algeria), Orlando Pirates (South Africa) and Esperance (Tunisia). Esperance are always highly regarded and have the lead in this year’s Tunisian Ligue 1 campaign, while Raja have bounced back after several years of mediocre returns to again pose a serious continental threat.

Outsiders looking in
It is a big year for South African football with the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, and the country’s two-time champions SuperSport United have built a formidable squad in the domestic league, where they are on course to win the Premier Soccer League title for a third successive season.

Last year in the Champions League, SuperSport were embarrassingly eliminated early on by Ugandan opposition, but they have promised to do better this year, and even while losing some key players to South African national team training camps over the next six months, they still have plenty of depth at their disposal. SuperSport open the tournament with a relatively straightforward trip across the border to Swaziland on Sunday against Mbabane Swallows.

Petro Atletico of Luanda are another team with plentiful resources, and under experienced Portuguese coach Bernardino Pedroto, they proved their ability with successive Girabola titles, suggesting that this year will provide the ideal opportunity to stake a bigger claim on the continent. Their first tie is in Equatorial Guinea where they meet Ela Nguema at the weekend in Malabo.

Fixtures
APR FC (Rwanda) - Recreativo Libolo (Angola)
Djoliba (Mali) - Al Ahli Benghazi (Libya)
ASC Linguere (Senegal) - Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Sofapaka (Kenya) - Ismaili (Egypt)
US Tamponnaise (Reunion) - Ajesaia (Madagascar)
Fello Star (Guinea) - Raja Casablanca (Morocco)
Ela Nguema (Equatorial Guinea) - Petro Atletico (Angola)
Sahel SC (Niger) - Club Africain (Tunisia)
Armed Forces (Gambia) - JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Gazelle (Chad) - Bayelsa United (Nigeria)
St Georges (Ethiopia) - Al Merreikh (Sudan)
East End Lions (Sierra Leone) - Esperance (Tunisia)
AS Stade Mandji (Gabon) - ASFA Yenega (Burkina Faso)
La Passe (Seychelles) - Curepipe Stralight (Mauritius)
Gaborone United (Botswana) - Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Young Africans (Tanzania) - FC St Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Mafunzo (Zanzibar) - Gunners FC (Zimbabwe)
AS Tempete Mocaf (Central African Republic) - Al Ittihad (Libya)
Balantas Mansoa (Guinea Bissau) - DH Jadida (Morocco)
Uganda Revenue Authority (Uganda) - Zanaco (Zambia)
Diables Noirs (Congo) - Entente Setif (Algeria)
Vital’O (Burundi) - Tiko United (Cameroon)
Mbabane Swallows - SuperSport United (South Africa)
AC Mitsamiouli (Comoros) - Ferroviario Maputo (Mozambique)

The weekend’s matches are being played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the return matches on the weekend of 26-28 February.

بما ان وصول وفد النادي الافريقي الى العاصمة نيامي سيكون في حدود الساعة السابعة مساء فقد برمج الاطار الفني لاجراء صحتين تدريبيتين على ارض المنافس وذلك يومي الجمعة والسبت المقبلين ليضبط خلالهما كل ما هو مطلوب منه من اختيارات فنية ورسوم تكتيكية.



في حديث قصير جمعنا عشية أول أمس مع وسام بن يحيى أعرب لنا من خلاله عن اسفه لانه سيكون بعيدا عن زملائه في مباراة هذا الاحد بسبب العقوبة المسلطة عليه في الوقت الذي يشعر انه قادر على مساعدتهم فنيا ومعنويا بفضل الخبرة التي اضحى يملكها على الصعيد القاري