MTN Champions League

Today
El Merreikh             v    Atraco 7pm
Canon Yaounde     v    Inter Star
Ferroviaro Maputo  v    KCC
DC Motema Pembe v    Mangasport
Young Africans        v    Etoile d’Or Mirontsy
Zesco United           v    Mathare Utd

Atraco have set themselves an enviable target of recording a win against Sudan’s El Merreikh in the first leg of the African Champions League preliminary round this evening in Khartoum.

The 2007/08 national league champion flew out to Khartoum on Thursday for their debut appearance in the MTN Champions League. The return leg clash is due in a fortnight.

Head coach Sam Timbe told Times Sport before the team’s departure that his team will go to Sudan with the aim of snatching an away win against the Sudanese champions.

"We have had enough time to prepare ourselves for this particular match, and everybody is in good shape for it.

"We will try and get a win over El Merreikh and it is the will of players to approach the game with determination and confidence,” Timbe said.

However, the former SC Villa and Uganda Police tactician is aware of the tough challenge ahead against the Sudanese outfit which enjoys an excellent record on the continent.

"Merreikh has a fantastic good record playing on the continent unlike us who are making our debut, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.

He however, admitted to not having enough knowledge about his opponents, "My only worry is that I don’t know much about their football.”

El Merreikh beat another Rwandan side, Rayon Sports 3-0 in Khartoum in the second leg of the Confederation Cup last year.

Atraco’s last continental appearance was during the 2006/07 season under coach Sam Ssimbwa when the taxi-men club failed to go beyond the second round of the Confederation Cup.

Meanwhile, thirty-four other clubs across the continent will be involved in action as the journey to the $1 million dollar-prize begins this weekend.

Ends