Ahead of Orange Champions league

TEN-TIME league champions APR has acquired Malawian pair of Elvis Bryson Kafoteka and Victor Girenda ahead of this year’s African Champions league.

The APR’s club Secretary General Adolphe Kalisa told Times Sport yesterday the pair were recruited to boost the military side’s chance of performing better in the tournament which gets underway next month.

"We have signed the pair and included them in our Champion’s league squad,” Kalisa said.

Kafoteka who is a perfect replacement for injured Mbuyu Twite has been playing for Zesco United in the Zambian Premier League while Girenda, who plays in attack for Escom United.

The duo joins fellow country mate Chiukepo Msowoya who was recently signed from Mozambique’s top-division side Liga Desportivo Musulmania.

The trio was part of Malawi’s national team which was recently ejected from the on-going Africa Nations’ Cup finals in Angola.

APR open their Champions League campaign with a home leg against Recreativo de Libolo on the weekend of February 12-14 before traveling to Luanda for the return leg on the weekend of February 25-28.

The winner will then face reigning champions TP Mazembe, who got a bye into the 1/16th round.

Mazembe were crowned African champions last season after edging past Nigerian side, Heartland FC on the away goal rule after a 2-2 tie from both legs.

APR head coach Erik Paske is under pressure to better Rene Feller’s performances in the 2009 Confederations Cup were the military side was knocked out in the second round after a 2-0 aggregates defeat against Haras El Hoduod of Egypt.

In the preliminary round, APR battered a lackluster Kenyan side Gor Mahia 7-0 on aggregate.

Ends