JOHANNESBURG: Title holders Al Ahli have two records in their sights when the group phase of the African Champions League begins this weekend. Al Ahli, who beat Etoile Sahel in last year s final, is away to another Tunisian side, CS Sfaxien in its opening Group A match on Saturday. The Egyptian side is looking to equal Cairo rivals Zamalek s record of five Champions League crowns. They are also defending a two-year unbeaten record in domestic and continental competition dating back to a 2-1 defeat by Arab Contractors in the Egyptian Cup final on July 2, 2004. Al Ahli has been preparing in France for the start of the group phase and drew 1-1 with Paris St Germain in a friendly on Tuesday. It will, however, be without injured midfielder Mohamed Barakat, the pivot of their Champions League triumph last year, and international fullback Mohamed Abdelwahab, who is in a contract dispute. CS Sfaxien also goes into the game without key personnel, including Nigerian striker Ikpotor Kings, who has not returned after going home on holiday in May, and new signing Mohamed Laabidi, who is not match fit. It is the first match in charge for CS Sfaxien s new coach Mrad Mahjoubi, appointed after Swiss Michel Decastel moved to Qatar last month. The two other sides in Group A meet in Algiers on Sunday, when JS Kabylie host Ghana s Asante Kotoko. JSK returned home on Wednesday after preparing in Crans Montana in Switzerland for several weeks. It was a good camp where we worked on the solidarity in the squad and cohesion on the pitch, Coach Jean-Yves Chay said on Thursday. In Group B, twice champions Enyimba of Nigeria travels to Obausi in Ghana to face Hearts of Oak on Sunday while Orlando Pirates meets ASEC Abidjan of the Ivory Coast at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Tuesday. The South African side was allowed to postpone their game because they play Manchester United in a friendly in Durban on Saturday.
