/ 27 January 2005

African Champions League kicks off

The 2005 African Champions League campaign begins this weekend, with Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town carrying the South African hopes.

AmaKhosi welcome AS Port Louis of Mauritius at Olympia Park in Rustenburg on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Chiefs are hoping to emulate Orlando Pirates, who are the only South Africa club to have won the tournament, in 1995.

However, the competition was known as the African Champions Cup at that stage and did not offer cash prizes for the participating clubs.

Chiefs won the Mandela Cup (now known as the Confederation Cup) in 2000.

The Confederation Cup is a merger between the Mandela Cup and CAF Cup Winners’ Cup.

Ajax host Mhlabanyatsi Rovers, the Swaziland league champions, at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday. The match will start at 3.45pm.

Chiefs qualified to take part in this prestigious annual competition after winning the Castle Premiership last season, while Ajax were runners-up. — Sapa