CAIRO: Just one week after conquering Africa at national-team level Egypt launch a challenge for continental club glory. The annual African Champions League kicks off this weekend with 24 first round, first leg fixtures and among six former holders in action are Zamalek from Cairo. Known as the White Knights, the club supplied a key cog of the Nations Cup-winning team in striker Amr Zaky. Physically formidable Zaky, player-of-the-tournament Hosny Abd Rabou and Mohamed Abou Trika shared the honor of being the leading Egyptian scorers at the biennial tournament with four goals each. Goalkeeper Mohamed Abdel Monsef and defenders Mahmoud Fathallah and Tarek Al-Sayed were other Zamalek members of a 23-strong "Pharaohs squad that defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the Nations Cup final last Sunday for a record sixth title. Now they must swap the international media spotlight of Ghana for Kigali, capital of the tiny central Africa country of Rwanda and home to military football club APR. Experienced coach Ruud Krol, a pivotal figure in the majestic Dutch national teams of the 1970s, will be acutely aware of the potential perils awaiting Zamalek, who have won the competition a record equaling five times. APR, whose squad is a mix of Rwandans and stars from neighboring countries, have embarrassed several big-name clubs at the 30,000-seat Amahoro Stadium in recent years. Club Africain of Tunisia (1991), Entente Setif of Algeria (1988), Enyimba of Nigeria (2003 and 2004), FAR Rabat of Morocco (1985) and Hearts of Oak of Ghana (2000) are other former champions in action. FAR, a major disappointment after reaching the group phase last year, host Sporting Praia of the Cape Verde Islands while Enyimba, the only Nigerian winners of the Champions League, entertain Diables Noir of Congo. Club Africain, back after an 11-year absence, travel to newcomers Saloum of Senegal, Hearts tackle experienced international campaigners FC 105 in Gabon and another long absentee, Setif, face SNIM in Mauritania. Africa Sports, whose goalkeeper Tiasse Kone was the only local in the Nations Cup squad of fourth-placed Ivory Coast, visit another club making their Champions League debut, Tonnerre of Benin. Cameroon, so strong at national team level with two firsts and a second from the last five Nations Cup tournaments, have not produced an African club champion since Canon Yaounde lifted the trophy 28 years ago. Cotonsport Garoua and Union Douala represent the central Africa nation this year and begin with away games against Vital O of Burundi and ASKO Kara of Togo respectively. Mamelodi Sundowns, the last South African club to make an impression by finishing runners-up to Al-Ahly of Egypt in 2001, confront Miembeni on the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar. The second South African challengers, debutants Platinum Stars, entertain Correction Services of Lesotho while Swaziland police outfit Royal Leopards host 1998 runners-up Dynamos of Zimbabwe in another regional showdown. Among the clubs receiving byes into the second round are holders Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, whose stunning 3-1 victory in Cairo last November prevented Al-Ahly becoming the first club to win three consecutive titles. The second-tier African Confederation Cup for national cup winners and selected third-placed league sides also starts this weekend with 12 fixtures, but holders Club Sport Sfaxien of Tunisia have a bye.
