South African glamour club Kaizer Chiefs return to the African Champions League next year after a lengthy absence.
The only previous appearance by the Johannesburg team was 11 years ago when they lost on the away-goal rule in the second round to eventual winners Zamalek of Egypt.
Chiefs are among 52 entrants for the 2005 edition of the $3,5-million competition for which the draw for the first, second and third rounds will be made on Thursday.
There are 10 Champions League winners on the list and it could swell to 11 if Etoile Sahel of Tunisia successfully defend a 2-1 lead away to holders Enyimba of Nigeria on Sunday in the second leg of the 2004 final.
Other former champions are Zamalek and Al-Ahly of Egypt, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak of Ghana, Kabylie of Algeria, Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Asec of Côte d’Ivoire, Raja Casablanca of Morocco and Esperance of Tunisia.
Chiefs will try to emulate domestic arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, shock winners of the 1995 Champions League with a 1-0 triumph over Asec in Côte d’Ivoire after being held 2-2 at home.
Like most South African clubs, Chiefs displayed lukewarm interest in the premier African club competition until the introduction of prize money seven years ago.
Their squad includes Malawi defender Patrick Mabedi, Zimbabwe midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha and young Zambia striker Collins Mbesuma, who could use the Champions League to raise an already high profile.
Studious Romanian Ted Dumitru brings a wealth of international experience to his role as coach and the back-up team includes former Chiefs stars Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse.
Surprise Nigerian league and cup winners Dolphins are relishing the chance to make an impact at international level after ending the dominance of Enyimba, who finished second in a bid for a fourth consecutive national title.
”This is one of the biggest success stories in Nigerian football history and I’m happy to be part of it. Now we need to show the rest of Africa that our time has come,” coach Musa Abdullahi said during a recent radio interview.
Unceremoniously ditched as coach of the national 2004 Olympic team after a qualifying loss in Senegal, Abdullahi will be on a mission to prove he can compete successfully at international level.
The Confederation Cup, open to national cup winners and third-placed league teams from select countries, has attracted 40 entries, including former African champions Union Douala of Cameroon and Ismailia of Egypt.
But the popularity of the Arab Champions League with a $2-million first prize, compared with $362 500 for the Confederation Cup, has affected the field with Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia not selecting their first choices.
First-round matches in both competitions are scheduled for the weekends of January 28 to 30 and February 11 to 13, with the second round during March and the third in April. — Sapa-AFP