دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2010 : القرعة صـ65

Octet former champions face away duels
02-11-2010



Eight former African champions will be involved in dicey away duels as the 14^th edition of the Orange CAF Champions League kick starts this weekend with the first leg matches of the preliminary round.

The octet; Asante Kotoko (Ghana), Ismaily (Egypt), Orlando Pirates (South Africa), Raja Casablanca (Morocco), J.S. Kabylie and Entente Setif (Algeria) and Tunisian duo; Club Africain and Esperance.

The octet having failed to establish themselves among the ‘big guns’ in recent times, will be seeking for the much anticipated perfect start which would be seen as the greenlight to rediscovery of the old status.

However, for a competition that has surprises as one of the regular features, some unfancied clubs often capitalize on the platform as an avenue to reach stardom.

In the northwest Senegalese city of Saint-Louis, two-time champions, Asante Kotoko will face debutants ASC Linguere at the Liguere Stadium. Kotoko have not been in the best of shapes, with their performance in the Ghanaian Premier League passing for ordinary by their standards. The clash ignites memories of last year, where Moroccan debutants Ittihad Khemisset edged out the Porcupine Warriors at the initial stage.

Nevertheless, midfielder Daniel Nii Adjei who scored a brace in a recent league encounter is upbeat about their chances in the continental clash.
“Our performance in the league matches was used to rehearse our tactics for the continental clash. We are ready for the test and we are sure of scaling the hurdle.”

Elsewhere in Kenya, Ismaily, the first Egyptian club to win a continental silverware, will play as guests of East Africa’s rising force Sofapaka FC, whilst three-time winners Raja Club Athletic face Fello Star Labe of Guinea in Conakry. Former South African champions Orlando Pirates, African champions in 1995 will face Botswana champions, Gaborone United.

Tunisian duo, Esperance and Club Africain will trek down West Africa as guests of East End Lions and Sahel FC of Sierra Leone and Niger respectively. Algerian champions, Entente Setif have a date with Congolese champions Diables Noirs whilst compatriots J.S. Kabylie engage Armed Forces of Gambia in Banjul.

Rwandan champions, APR gave their continental hopes a major boost with a lone goal victory over Ethiopian outfit, St. Georges in a friendly ahead of their encounter with Angolan side Recreativo de Libolo at the Nyamirenda Stadium in Kigali. Buoyed by the performance in the test match, Dutch coach Erik Paske has declared their readiness for the premier club competition.

“We played with good control, technique and aggression. We were fast on the counter-attacks and defended as a unit. We are ready for Recreativo de Libolo,” said Paske.

In Saint-Denis, US Tamponnaise will battle it out with Ajesaia of Madagascar in an all “Islanders” affair just as the La Passe FC of Seychelles and the Starlight Curepipe of Mauritius.

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopian champions St. Georges will lock horns with Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh, Young Africans of Tanzania versus St. Eloi Lupopo of DR Congo whilst Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar sorts things out with Zimbabwean debutants, Gunners FC.

At the National Stadium in Kampala, Revenue Authority, the football club owned by the Ugandan Tax Agency will come face-to-face with Zanaco of Zambia, OS Balantas of Guinea Bissau will host Difaa El Jadida of Morocco whilst Stade Mandji of Gabon clash with perennial contenders ASFA Yennenga of Burkina Faso.

Angolan champions, Petro Athletico will play host to Sony de Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea in Luanda whilst Cameroonian debutants Tiko United travel to Bujumbura as guests of Burundi champions, Vital’O.

Libyan champions are primed for the trip to Bangui as guests of Central African champions AS Tempete Mocaf boosted by the presence of Serbian trainer Miodrag Jesic. Jesic, highly tipped to replace Luboslav Penev as head coach of Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia has opted to stay with the 15-time Libya champions in their continental campaign.

Meanwhile, holders T.P. Mazembe of DR Congo, six-time winners Al-Ahly of Egypt, ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire, last year’s losing finalists Heartland FC of Nigeria, Sudanese giants Al-Hilal and Dynamos of Zimbabwe have drawn a bye at the prelims.

The second leg matches is scheduled for the weekend of February 26 to February 28.

Fixtures
APR (Rwanda) v Recreativo de Libolo (Angola)
Djoliba AC (Mali) vs. Ahly Benghazi (Libya)
Linguere (Senegal) vs. Asante Kotoko (Ghana)
Sofapaka FC (Kenya) vs. Ismaily (Egypt)
US Tamponnaise (Reunion) vs. Ajesaia (Madagascar)
Fello Star Labe (Guinea) vs. Raja Club Athletic (Morocco)
Sony de Ela Nguema (Equatorial Guinea) vs. Petro Athletico (Angola)
Sahel FC (Niger) vs. Club Africain (Tunisia)
Armed Forces (Gambia) vs. JS Kabylie (Algeria)
Saint George (Ethiopia) vs. Al Merrikh (Sudan)
East End Lions (Sierra Leone) vs. Esperance (Tunisia)
Stade Mandji (Gabon) vs. ASFA Yennega (Burkina Faso)
La Passe FC (Seychelles) vs. Starlight Curepipe (Mauritius)
Gaborone United (Botswana) vs. Orlando Pirates (South Africa)
Young Africans (Tanzania) vs. St. Eloi Lupopo (DR Congo)
Mafunzo FC (Zanzibar) vs. Gunners FC (Zimbabwe)
AS Tempete Mocaf (Central African Rep.) vs. Al Ittihad (Libya)
OS Balantas (Guinea Bissau) vs. Difaa El Jadida (Morocco)
Revenue Authority (Uganda) vs. Zanaco (Zambia)
Diables Noirs (Congo) vs. Entente Setif (Algeria)
Vital’O (Burundi) vs. Tiko United (Cameroon)
Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland) vs. Supersport (South Africa)
Gazelle FC (Chad) vs. Bayelsa United (Nigeria)
AC Mitsamiouli (Comoros) vs. Ferraviaro (Mozambique)

Katza confident of CAF outcome




SuperSport United captain Ricardo Katza promised the nation that his club they will come back with a good result after meeting Mbabane Swallows in their CAF Champions League match on Sunday.
Coach Gavin Hunt recently told KickOff.com that he will use the game at Somhlolo Stadium to give a run to some players who have not seen much action this season.

Leaving behind some of his regulars, this will open the door to players like Davies Nkausu, Petrus Mahlatsi, Masibusane Zongo and Thabo Moleko to claim a position in the starting line up in Swaziland.

Speaking to KickOff.com before the team’s departure to Mbabane, Katza said they will not change anything with regard for their approach in winning every game they play.

“The Champions League and the Absa Premiership are two different things but we are not going to change our approach. It doesn’t make any difference that the coach leaves some players behind as all players at SuperSport United are very good as every player on the field on Sunday will give it his best shot.

“Our preparations for this game have been going well and we had chance yesterday to train on an artificial turf surface, the same as what we will be playing on in Swaziland.”

Swazi Birds’ CEO Sibusiso Manana says the departure of coach Walter Rautmann on the eve of the match will not disrupt them.

“It doesn’t matter whether they bring team their A or B team, the fact is that we will give them a hiding on Sunday. The good thing is that they don’t know much about us whereas we see them on TV week in and week out and are able to come up with good game plan.”


Ernest Fakude

Asante Kotoko face ASC Saint Louis




Ghanaian runners-up Asante Kotoko set off on Wednesday for Senegal ahead of their first qualifying round tie in the CAF Champions League against ASC Linguere Saint Louis on Saturday.
Ahead of their departure, the men in red are playing against division one club Tema Youth today to test their readiness for the weekend game.

The Porcupine Warriors gained qualification for the continental tournament following

thens hold African Champions TP Mazembe

HARARE- BANC ABC Sup 8r champions Lengthens produced a fabulous defensive display to hold reigning African Champions TP Mazembe to a goalless draw in an exhilarating international friendly match at Rufaro yesterday.
The Happy People who are one of Zimbabwe's representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup defied odds staked against them when they displayed their best performance since they started their preparations for their maiden appearance in the African Safari in which they will meet AS Adema of Madagascar in a tricky encounter at Rufaro on Sunday. Although TP Mazembe did not field star player and inspirational captain Tressor Mputu, Lengthens coach Mandla Masuku was happy with the result.
He said the test match served its real purpose and he was happy that they gained a point against the reigning African Champions. "This is our third consecutive match as we prepare for the tie against AS Adema. I must say that I am pleased with the result. Our defence was solid today but we need to work on our strike force. We could have won this one had our strikers not wasted chances. If you consider the fact that we lost 4-1 in our first game last weekend, lost 2-1 in the second game I think you agree with me that this draw shows an improvement especially when it is against a team like TP Mazembe." said Masuku
However, his counterpart Diego Gazzito said he was disappointed with the result. "I am not happy at all. We came here to win and not to get a draw. We need to work very hard. Lengthens and CAPS United have quality players. They are very strong sides," said Gazzito. TP Mazembe fielded four former Monomotapa players Chris Semakweri, Muthulis Maphosa, Daniel Zokoto and Darry Nyandoro. They did not play in the match against CAPS United whom they beat 2-0 on Tuesday.
However, Lengthens never really showed any respect for their more illustrious opponents as they launched a series of raids in their opponents goal. Artwell Nyamhiwa and Richard Muteki came close towards the end of the match but watched in horror as their efforts were cleared from the line. Dynamos and Gunners are representing Zimbabwe in the Champions League while CAPS United and Lengthens will fly the country's flag high in the Confedera-tion Cup. Gunners are the only Zimbabwean side who are away this weekend after they flew out to face Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar on Sunday. Dynamos who recieved a bye into the first round will get their campaign rolling in March

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