ACTUALITE |
06.12.2001
Al Ahly start final preparations
Egypt`s Al Ahly have arrived in South Africa and started preparations for this weekend`s African Champions League final against Sundowns.
Portugese coach Manuel Jose and his team flew in on Sunday and will spend the week training ahead of Sunday`s first leg clash in Pretoria.
Jose has taken the Egyptian side to the final of the leading club event in African club football just four months after joining the popular Cairo club.
Sundowns went through on penalties
Although Al Ahly have a record of success in African club competition, and were last year named as the African club of the century, recent years have seen the side struggling.
Jose has made no secret of his frustrations at Al Ahly in recent months where he has attempted to wield together a side of exciting young players, full of skill but without much tactical discipline.
Ahly did surprise in reaching the final, overcoming pre-tournament favourites Esperance of Tunisia in the semifinals.
Ahly won the tie on the away goals rule, playing to a goalless draw at home in the first leg and then getting a late equaliser for a 1-1 tie in the return match in Tunis.
Low profile
The side have been in Pretoria to acclimatise to the high altitude and have trained at Loftus Versfeld, which will be the venue for Saturday`s first leg.
The build-up to the final in South Africa has been low profile however, despite the fact that the country is chasing a `double` in the top two club competitions in Africa.
Last Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs beat InterClube of Angola 1-0 in the second leg of the African Cup Winners` Cup final to win the trophy 2-1 on aggregate.
The only issue which has been dominating the headlines is Al Ahly`s request to have the match played in the evening because its players will be fasting for Ramadan.
But Sundowns have refused to move the kick off time, siting security concerns for their decision.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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