دوري أبطــ( 10 )ـــال إفريقيا 2010 : فوز غير مطمئن للأهلي على الترجي

Gomaa – “We are ready for any team”
Veteran defender Wael Gomaa has declared that Egyptian giants, Al-Ahly are ready for any opponent that will come their way at the last four of the Orange CAF Champions League.
The Red Devils will know their opponents at the semis after the ultimate round of matches at the mini-league, in either Tunisian giants Esperance or holders TP Mazembe, but the 35-year old defensive pillar reckons that they have what it takes to face either side.
Ahly, record six-time winners in the premier continental club championship will wrap up their campaign at the group phase with a derby clash against archrivals Ismaily on Sunday in Ismailia , and with their place secured for the last four, Gomaa is already talking up their chances at the next stage.
With a collection of four triumphs with the Egyptian giants in 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2008; the central defender is looking forward to a fifth and seventh overall for the Cairo-based club, a feat which he said can only be achieved by scaling past either Esperance or Mazembe for a place at the grand finale.
“We are ready for either side. Our aim is to win the title and we are ready for team that comes our way.”
Gomaa, turned 35, forty-eight hours after heading home the match winner against Ismaily in the day two clash of the group phase last August, and has expressed optimism in the capabilities of the Red Devils.
He recalled that Ahly beat the 1994 winners, Esperance en route to their triumph in 2001, and remains upbeat that they can replicate a similar feat should they be paired against the ‘Blood and Gold’.
For Gomaa, experience is his bedrock and having spent close to a decade with the Red Devils, he has no intentions of hanging up his boots anytime soon.
“I will continue to play as long as my strength permits me, and I have no intentions of retiring anytime soon.”
Gomaa joined Ahly in 2001 from Ghazel Al-Mahalla and has played an integral role in Ahly’s conquest on both domestic and international fronts.

Dynamos Seek Symbolic Win

Dynamos take a bow out of this year’s Orange CAF Champions League when they host semifinalists Esperance of Tunisia at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Saturday.

The Harare giants will be looking to exit on a high note with a symbolic win after a poor 2010 outing whose major highlight saw the Zimbabwe club became the first team from the COSAFA zone to make four appearances in the Champions League mini-league stage since its inception in 1997.

Coach Elvis Chiweshe has said despite Dynamos poor Champions League campaign this year, the competition has served as a catalyst in their battle for the Zimbabwean league title and a place in next year’s premier CAF club event.
Meanwhile, Dynamos come into their final Group A match on three points garnered from their solitary win in the mini-league in a 1-0 home victory over pool stage debutants Entente Setif of Algeria on August 15.

Interesting, that win was also their last home game before suffering two successive defeats at the hands of Setif going down 3-0 in the return leg and losing 2-1 last Sunday away to defending Champions League and this year’s semifinalists TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

Chiweshe will also be aiming to try and exorcise some ghosts of the past against Esperance.

In 1999, the two sides meet in Group B that saw Esperance dominate Dynamos with a 2-0 win in Harare before completing their double over the Zimbabwean side 1-0 in the return leg on the Tunisians way to finishing runners-up in that edition of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Dynamos will be boosted by the availability of the seven players who include first choice and Zimbabwe international goalkeeper Washington Arubi who missed the game away to TP Mazembe last Sunday due to suspension.

Arubi was back between the sticks on Wednesday when Dynamos beat Black Mambas at Rufaro in a league game.

For Esperance, who are level on 10 points level with TP Mazembe, it’s a case of who finishes top of Group A ahead of semifinals in the first week of October.

Heartland play for pride

Despite their elimination from the 2010 Orange CAF Champions League, Heartland say they will go into their last game against Group B leaders JS Kabylie on Sunday with pride on their minds.
The 2009 losing finalists’ dream of advancing to the semifinals of the competition was ended by record six-time winners Egypt’s Al Ahly, who defeated the visitors 2-1 at the Cairo International Stadium on September 12.
The result of Sunday’s match at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, will make no difference in Group B, though.
Even if Kabylie lose, they will still remain on top of the log with 13 points while the best result will put Heartland on seven points, which would still not guarantee them a place in the semifinals of the competition.
“We will play them (Kabylie) like every other game. We are playing for pride now that we are out of the competition. We lost narrowly away to the Algerians in the first fixture and I believe if we had kept our heads, we would have come out of the match with a better result. Hopefully we should do better at home because if we win the last game, we will bring back our pride a little,” Siasia said.
The former Nigeria striker expressed disappointment at the defeat in Egypt.
“Really, I am disappointed because we should have won or at least drawn the match in Cairo. Sometimes you wish for things but they don’t just work out the way you want it.
“We have to accept our defeat but we didn’t play well in midfield even if we had the better possession. What is possession when you don’t score? Football is about scoring but we didn’t do that.
“Also, we lost too many balls in midfield but I think this is a big lesson. In the defence, we made costly mistakes that cost us goals.
“In fact, it was double tragedy for us because our strikers were not scoring and our backline were not able to stop the opponents from scoring,” Siasia said.
On preparations for the Kabylie match, he said, “We went back to training after we returned from Egypt and I have told the players that they must give the match their all. They have to fight until the final whistle. We need the three points at stake.
“We respect the Algerians. They are a very good side but they are beatable. Heartland are a force to reckon with in Africa too but in football, things like this happen. We must go back and prepare ahead of next season. We have learnt our lessons the hard way.”
Heartland media officer Cajetan Nwaopara said the Naze Millionaires’ image was at stake and would ensure that they leave the competition with their heads held high.
“People say the match is a mere formality but for us there’s a lot at stake. Right now, our image is in the dust and we must redeem it by winning on Sunday. At least the win will give us something to cheer about.
“For a team who came close to winning the competition last year, we must ensure that we don’t go out like that without a fight.
“And that is why we started camping on Wednesday in Nnewi, close to Owerri. Everybody’s minds are geared towards winning the match.
Ismaily, former champions of the competition, who crashed out a day before Heartland courtesy of Nigerian-born Kabylie forward, Izu Azuka’s lone strike in Algeria, will play Ahly at home in another formality tie same day.
The Egyptian club, which once paraded Nigerian forward, John Utaka, are last in Group B with three points while Ahly, with eight points, join Kabylie in progressing to the semifinal.

Ismaily, Ahly revive rivalry
Egyptian giants Ismaily hosts rivals Al-Ahly on Sunday at the Ismailia Stadium in the ultimate clash of the group phase of the Orange CAF Champions League.

Ismaily enter this match with just three points from their previous Group B matches after back-to-back losses to Algeria’s JS Kabylie amongst others and will be hoping to bow out on a high note.

The main agenda on the table of the ‘Dervishes’ ahead of the derby is to prove to their fans that they remain one of the best teams on the continent despite their disappointing run in the competition, and will go all out to achieve their target.

The onus therefore lies on Coach Mark Wotte and his team to prove their worth against Ahly, who have already booked their place at the last four.

“We are looking forward to a win. We have a strong team and we have to prove to the fans that we are capable. I want to assure the fans we will come back strongly in the CAF Champions League next season, which remains the dream of every club.”

The Dervishes will be without key players including Hosny Abd-Rabou, Amr Al-Sulaya, Omar Gamal, all injured and their absence has served a major blow to the team’s progress.

Despite playing for academic purposes, Ismaily have intensified their preparations for the crucial encounter, which their fans hold dear due to the fact that it is against Ahly.

Ahly, on the otherhand, are expected to approach the game on a rather calm note having confirmed their place at the next round. However, they are not taking chances, an instance that was reflected in 5-1 thrashing of Suez in a buildup game.

Coach Hossam Al-Badri paraded an entirely young squad for the friendly, giving a strong indication that he may give an opportunity to fringe players in the ultimate encounter.

“My aim is to win against Ismaily, and deliver a good performance that will make our fans happy. The physical condition of my key players is critical especially as we have qualified for the semi final,” Al-Badri said.

The record six-time winners will be without Hossam Ghaly and Mohamed Aboutreika, both suspended with Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan ruled out due to injury, but Al-Badri remains upbeat about their chances.

Ahly beat Ismaily 2-1 in their previous meeting at the Cairo International Stadium few weeks ago.