25 April 2011
ZAMBIA’S envoys in the 2011 Orange CAF Champions League, Zesco United have been challenged not to drop their guard when they face-off six-time African champions, Al Ahly in a must-win round of 16 return leg in Egypt next weekend.
After settling for a 0-0 home draw in Ndola at the weekend, Zesco now have an uphill battle to win at Cairo National Stadium for a place in the lucrative group stage.
Zesco Limited managing director, Ernest Mupwaya urged the Zambian champions to work extra hard if they were to remain in Africa’s elite club competition.
Mupwaya, whose firm bankrolls the Ndola side, said with the quality of football exhibited in the first leg, Zesco just needed a bit more training for them to overhaul the Egyptian giants in their backyard.
He said the Saturday draw at Trade Fair Ground was a good measure for Fighton Simukonda’s men and Zesco now needed to build on for the must-win return fixture.
Mupwaya, who is club patron, said Zesco were unlucky not to score despite reducing Africa’s club of the century to second-best on the pitch for lengthy spells.
“It was a very interesting game. Zesco put up a spirited fight against a tough opponent. The quality of play was good. Luck was not just with us but we should build on from the draw,” Mupwaya, who was among thousands of fans in the stands, said.
Zesco secretary, Justin Mumba said the club administration was not disappointed with the draw and that pressure was now on Ahly since they would be at home.
Mumba said the draw gave Zesco hope of performing better in the return leg.
Simukonda said his technical bench had at least a week to prepare the team for the crucial encounter and the players would be psyched ahead of the trip to Cairo next week.
He said Zesco would take the return leg cautiously but was confident of progression.
Simukonda saluted his players for showing good character and mental strength after defender, Billy Mwanza and striker, Alfred Luputa were lost before the end of the match through injury.
He was hopeful that Mwanza, who picked up a knee injury and Luputa who limped off with a suspected torn muscle on his right hamstring, would recover before the deciding match.
Ahly coach, Manuel Jose, who has won four continental titles with the Egyptian team, said his charges had a better chance of qualifying to the group stage after the draw in Ndola.
Jose, however, conceded that the battle was not yet over and congratulated Zesco for their display, saying the Zambian team could have won.
Zesco Supporters’ Club secretary, Charles Kalala said the draw was a fair result considering that the Zambians were playing an experienced team and urged the team not to be intimidated but go flat-out and win the second leg in Egypt.
The winner of the return fixture will sail through to the group stage with the loser dropping into the Confederations Cup.
AllAfrica – All the Time