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Preview: Mido is confident as Zamalek seek to make amends in Champions League Mido is adamant Zamalek would be able to make up for their opening group-stage loss by AS Vita Club as they host Hilal of Sudan in the African Champions League on Saturday
Stuttering Zamalek can hardly afford another early slip-up in the African Champions League group stage as they host Sudan's Hilal almost a week after their defensive frailties were exposed in a 2-1 defeat at Congo's AS Vita Club. Another lackluster showing against Vita Club, which saw Zamalek adopt a defensive strategy that proved ineffective, cast doubts over their prospects of winning Africa's premier club competition for the first time since 2002. Hilal are likely to prove a stiff opponent at Cairo's Air Defence Stadium in a match that will be played behind closed doors, having beaten four-time African champions Mazembe 1-0 at home in their opening Group A game. But rookie coach and fan favourite Mido, who has yet to win over critics since replacing Helmi Toulan in the dugout last January, is adamant Zamalek would atone for their defeat by AS Vita Club and eventually reach the final. “I'm betting on our qualification from this group and to the final after a lengthy absence,” Mido, who still retains the support of Zamalek's die-hard supporters, said on his Twitter feed. As well as their recurring defensive blunders, Zamalek have also been suffering from lack of firepower, with their forwards often unable to make the most of the plenty of chances they create. They had the upper hand in eight Champions League meetings with Hilal, winning four, drawing twice and losing twice. Their last clash was in 2007 when Hilal eliminated Zamalek from the preliminaries with a 4-2 aggregate victory. “Zamalek are an excellent team. We will do our best to snatch a point or even win away from home,” Hilal's Brazilian coach Paulo Campos was quoted as saying by Sudanese media. Mido has a fully-fit squad to choose from but his underachieving players will have to demonstrate their worth if Zamalek are to avoid an elimination from the group stage for the second successive year. (For more sports news and updates,followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.) http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/102042.aspx
