Atraco predict tough Merreikh clash

APR good to go in Confederation Cup The 2007/08 national league champion Atraco has predicted a tough challenge ahead of their African Champions League preliminary fixture against Sudan’s perennial giants El Merreikh. Atraco FC head Coach Sam Timbe told Times Sport yesterday that his club will face a tough challenge from the Sudanese champions whose record is excellent on the continent. “Merreikh has a good club performance record and being a Sudanese club is also fantastic because they have had a good record in football of recent.” “I must intensify the preparations for the preliminary round. My only worry is that I don’t know their type of football,” Timbe said, adding that they will double their concentration to qualify from the preliminary round. Last year’s national league title league holders Atraco will be making their African champions league debut to Sudan’s El Merreikh in the weekend of January 30-February 2, 2009 in the first league in Khartoum before hosting the Sudan champions in a second leg clash due in a fortnight. The taxi-men club must be prepared to face a tough challenge against Merreikh following this year’s 0-3 drubbing of Rayon Sport in the Confederation cup. 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. Having defeated Burundi’s Prince Louis 3-0 and Ethiopia’s Defense 2-0 on aggregates respectively, Atraco lost to Tunisia’s Gafsa after a 3-all aggregate, a feat which granted Gafsa qualification to the next round after scoring two away goals in a 2-all draw in Kigali. Arch-rivals, APR have doubted any hard challenge after being drawn against Kenya’s Gor Mahia in next year’s confederations cup. Coach Rene feller said, “APR is ready for international football and I don’t see any tough task after drawing a fellow regional club from Kenya,” “We will go for the Confederation Cup title and am positive of good performance throughout the qualifying rounds,” Feller said confidently. APR travels to Kenya onthe weekend of January 30-February 2 next year for the first leg before playing the second leg in Kigali after a fortnight. The winner between APR and Gor Mahia will face Egyptian side Haras El Hodoud who got a bye to the first round of the Confederation Cup. Ends

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Atraco predict tough Merreikh clash