Champions League

Feb.  15-17

APR  v  Zamalek

Andy Mfutila is confident that his young side would be able to overcome Zamalek when the two sides meet in the first preliminary round of the MTN/CAF Champions league slated for next February.

Talking to Times Sport for the first time since the draws were made on Monday, the APR coach said, "I am not preparing my team for only the Zamalek game but rather the entire competition.”

"I know Zamalek quite well and how they play. I understand Egyptian football and the good thing is that Rwandan football is also fast improving.

"And despite the fact that we have a totally new team, I’m confident about our chances of going past the first round,” the Congolese tactician noted.

Mfutila has two months to prepare his players, most of whom will be playing in the continental championship for the first time.

However, the 46-year old coach admitted he has a lot to do in terms preparing his young side for what is probably going to their toughest assignment ever.

Meanwhile, the military side has strengthened their squad with three Cameroonian imports ahead of the continental engagements. The trio includes two midfielders, Antoine Nyamsi, Jeannot Atcham Atcham and a striker, Louis-Philippe Belinga.

APR will host the Egyptian giants on February 15-17 before traveling to Cairo in the weekend of February 29 and March 1-2. The national and regional champions have fond memories against the Egyptian side that they eliminated back in 2004.

Then  coached by Jean Marie Ntagwabira, APR lost 2-3 in Cairo before pulling off a shock 4-1 victory at Amahoro stadium at the second round stage. The military side had opened their campaign in style with a 9-5 aggregate win over Eritrea's Ansheba.

However, that was as far as they could reach as they were eliminated at the third round by Ivory Coast's Africa Sports 5-4 on penalties.

The winner between APR and Zamalek will face the winner between Benin’s Tonnere Fc and Africa Sports on the weekend of March 21-23 with the return leg a fortnight later.

Mfutila’s side was controversially eliminated from this year’s competition at the second round phase by Togo’s Maranatha Fiokpo.

Ends