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12.08.2006 Football News

MTN African Champions League Continues This Weekend

12.08.2006 LISTEN
By CITY NEWS

Club Football in Africa gets busy this weekend as the MTN African Champions League enters it third round with matches in both groups expected to be thrilling and exciting. None of the clubs in both groups is in pole positions, thereby confirming the very competitive nature of the tournament so far.

Two of Ghana's top clubs, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak, are on course to make an impact in the tournament. Kotoko has recorded a loss and a win whilst hearts of oak have had a stuttering start losing all two games played so far.

Under caretaker coach, Ato Hammond, hearts play South African champions Orlando pirates, and the entire team has assured all of a win against the South Africans.

The return of Amankwa Mireku will strengthen the phobian defensive set up which has pockedted 5 goals in two matches. On the other hand pirates have hopes of securing their first win against the Ghanaian side after playing two draws but they have been confronted with injuries as top players of the side are unable to play.

A management member of the club, Frank Nielson, told citi sports that the boys are highly motivated for the clash.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko will on Sunday at the Obuasi Len clay stadium want to repeat their very impressive performance a fortnite ago as they engage humgry defending champions Al ahly, the oseikrom lads after getting four goals in two preparatory matches against division one sides metro stars and adansiman start the game as favorites. Skipper of the side Edmond Owusu Ansah tells citi sports that they are ready to take on the defending champions and come out victorious.

Champions Al Ahly arrived in Accra last night in preparation for their clash with the porcupine warriors.

Citi sports caught up with the head of delegation for the contigent, Mohammed Shalcke, who was beaming with confidence. According to Shalcke as champions of Africa, they are concentrating on beating Kumasi Asante Kotoko and not considering the goal scoring prowess of the African Red Devils.

Key man Mohammed Barakat and top striker Abu Trekah are all injured and Ahly will go into the game with half the strength of their army. Even the though Board member, Shalcke, is worried about this development but is not perturbed.

Mohammed Shalcke is a board member of African Champions Al Ahly and leader of the delegation in Ghana.

In other matches, Leaders of group A, Enyimba will travel away to Abidjan to face Asec in determining who really is in the driving seat in that group. An all-northern African encounter looks too good as Algeria's Js Kabylie play Tunisian side Cs sfaxien who suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Kotoko.

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