23 April 2011
ZESCO United begin their quest for a slot in the 2011 Orange CAF Champions League group stage today with a dicey round of 16 first leg tie against six-time African champions, Al Ahly at Trade Fair Ground in Ndola.
With all the benefits that come with reaching the lucrative group phase, Zesco are now two games away from replicating what they did in 2009 by storming the mini-league series.
However, reaching the group stage is not Zesco’s prime target – the three-time Zambian league champions have set their eyes on making a historic qualification to the final where the winner is assured of US$1.5 million prize money.
Going into today’s match, Zesco will hope to explore the rustiness in the talented but ageing Egyptian team caused by a lengthy football inactivity following the political turmoil in the North African nation.
Interestingly in 1992 when Ahly last visited Zambia, they faltered 0-1 against Kabwe Warriors in the now defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup and Zesco are raring to claim the scalp of the continent’s most successful club.
Zesco coach, Fighton Simukonda, who wants to maintain a clean home sheet in continental football, has pointed all his arsenals at Ahly and is confident of gunning down the “Red Devils” this Holy Saturday afternoon.
“We shall beat Ahly and I’m very confident about that. We’re ready and our goal is within our reach and sight,” Simukonda, who guided Zesco to the group stage in 2009, declared.
He is, however, mindful that it will not be an easy stroll for his charges as games at this level are tough and competitive.
“We know that games at this level are always tough and competitive but we’re ready for them. We believe in our ability and we’re driven by our desire to succeed because we have a good team to compete very well at this level,” the former Zambia trainer said.
Zesco are plotting for a big home victory and go into the return leg in a fortnight with a healthy advantage.
While Simukonda is confident of upsetting the 35-time Egyptian champions, Ahly coach, Manuel Jose de Jesus Silva, known simply as Manuel Jose, said it was his team’s philosophy to win continental club games either home or away.
Jose, regarded as one of the most successful club coaches in CAF competitions, said his aim was to qualify to the group stage and was hoping that the vast experience which his players posed would translate into a positive result today.
“We came here to try and win this match. With all the respect for our opponents, this is our philosophy, we have to win either home or away,” the Portuguese trainer, who won four Champions League titles with Ahly, said.
Jose, however, conceded that the long league lay-off in Egypt had an impact on his team but that Ahly were coming up again.
The 65-year-old trainer, who boasts of eight Egyptian national team players in his squad this afternoon, will be banking on the experience of veteran Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Shawky, Sayed Moawad, Mohamed Abou-Treika, Ahmed Fathy, Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy and Mauritania’s Dominique da Silva, who scored in Ahly’s 2-0 win over Supersport United of South Africa.
As for the 53-year-old Simukonda, his hopes are pinned on his top scorer, Alfred Luputa, who has so far rattled the net four times in the competition, veteran defender Billy Mwanza, Clifford Chipalo, Potipher Zulu, Kangwa Chileshe, Nyambe Mulenga, Jackson Mwanza, Sydney Kalume and Innocent Mwaba.
Ahly will host Zesco in a fortnight at the giant Cairo National Stadium with the winner over two legs qualifying to the group stage while the loser will drop into the CAF Confederations Cup.
Probable line-ups:
Zesco – Jacob Banda, Nyambe Mulenga, Stephen Kabamba, Billy Mwanza, Chalwe Kabamba, Sydney Kalume, Clifford Chipalo, Potipher Zulu, Alfred Luputa, Jackson Mwanza, Kangwa Chileshe.
Ahly – Ahmed Adel, Sherif Abdul-Fadil, Ahmed Al-Sayed, Ahmed Fathy, Wael Gomaa, Sayed Moawad, Hossam Ashour, Hossam Ghaly, Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy, Mohamed Shawky, Dominique Da Silva.
Referee – Jean-Claude Labrosse (Seychelles).
AllAfrica – All the Time