Opposition Watch: Zesco United’s Champs League opponents

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Zambianfootball.net takes a look at Zambian Champs and CAF Champions League group debutant Zesco United’s opponents in this year’s Africa’s biggest club competition.

Team Ya Ziko opens its group A fixture against Nigerian side Kano Pillars while in Khartoum, every fan is already talking about one of the fiercely contested derby on the continent, Al Hilah v Al Merriek. Click here to watch the match between Zesco United v Kano Pillars live on the internet

The Zamfoot Crew has been monitoring the four clubs’ recent form and what has been happening in their respective camps. Below is a bit of Kachepa from the three teams.

Club: Kano Pillars (Nigeria)

Stadium: Sani Abacha Stadium

Founded: 1990

Honuors: 2007/08 Nigerian Premier League Champs

Nickname: Al Ahly Killers

Against all odds, Kano Pillars did the unthinkable and dumped the once mighty Al Ahly of Egypt in the last the round to reach this stage. But a month ago, Pillars parted company with Ghanian born and ex-Asante Kotoko trainer Malik Jabir, the man behind their recent achievements.(guided them to the league title in the 2007/08 season and Champions League glory)

championsleague-zescounited-kanopillars

In the just ended season in the Nigerian Globalcom Premier League 2008/09 season, Kano Pillars won 14 games, drew 12 and lost by the same number of games they drew thus finishing 7th on a 20 team log.

This means they have to be crowned Champions in November for them to participate in next year’s edition…Eish a mountain to climb indeed.

The Nigerian side arrived in Lusaka on Monday and flew to Ndola yesterday enroute to Chingola’s Protea Hotel were they will be camped ahead of tomorrow’s mouthwatering clash at Chililabombwe’s Konkola ‘Pa Bwendo’ Stadium.

Winger Jonas Sakuwaha who was attending trials in France was on his way back to Zambia last night.

Zesco United’s Probable XI

————————–Jacob Banda————————

Rodgers Kamwandi———–Hichani Himonde—Kunda Mushota—-Nyambe Mulenga

Sakuwaha————–Maybin Mwaba——–Kondwani Mtonga——-Yonah Mwango

————————————-Jackson Mwanza———

—————————————————-Enoch Sakala—————

Note: William Chinyama has been ruled out due an ankle injury and thus the versatile Nyambe ‘The Machine’ Mulenga is poised to start on the left.

Club: Al Hilal Om Dourman (Sudan)

Founded: February 13, 1930.

Honours: Crowned five of the past six seasons- Sudan Premier League

————has won 24 times out of 44 editions of the Sudanese Premier League

————It is Sudan’s most decorated club.

————Hilal means Crescent

———–Four graduates of now University of Khartoum founded the club in 1930

This will be there ninth appearance in the CAF Champions League.and last season they dumped Zesco United out of the competition in the second round with the help of Nigerian players they bought from Enyimba.

Al Hilal is coached by Brazilian born coach Paolu Campos who was part of the technical staff at Spanish side Real Madrib in the 2005/06 season- Zizou’s last season at Real.

They are not participating in the ongoing CECAFA Club Championship as they have opted for a camp in Egypt were they have drawn one game and won by a 5-1 goal bashing.

Player to Watch: Lelo Mbele-The Congolese international and former Isaac Chansa’s teammate at Orlando Pirates is their star player.

Club: Al Merreikh

Stadium: Al Merreikh Stadium

Founded: 1908

Hounors: Won the Sudanese Premier League 17 times

————-Merreikh means planet Mars

————-Zambian defence kingpin Elijah Tana and Zachariah Simukonda were once on their books.

———–In 2007, they reached the finals of the 2007 CAF Confederations Cup.

After watching arc-rivals win the league for five consecutive times, Al Merriekh finally got their hands on the trophy last season (2008).

This is be the first time they have reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

Al Merriakh were recently beaten 1-0 in the CECAFA Club Championship last week.

Do you think Zesco United will qualify to the semi-finals? Have your Say.

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