APR coach expects ESS to go defensive

Weekend fixturesDynamos vs TP MazembePlatinum vs Al MerriekhURA vs Djoliba APR vs Etoile du SahelCoffee vs Al AhlyAS Chlef vs AS VitaLEAGUE champions APR have switched focus from domestic league to the first round of the Orange African Champions League where they host Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel this weekend in Kigali.Speaking to Ducth Coach Ernie Brandts, yesterday, the APR tactician said “We are moving on with preparations. We have been training twice and everybody is fine.”Asked whether he plans to beat the Northern Africans and if he knows anything about them, he said, “I have not watched their match videos, but I have some vital information about them. They lost their last domestic two matches, which came one the back of two successive goalless draws.”“They have also fielded a lot of defensive minded players in their recent matches and I believe they may do the same here, but we shall try to find a solution to that,” added Brandts who is targeting to guide APR into the group stage.As APR hosts Etoile du Sahel this Saturday, there will be six others games in the region with one of them no less a calibre than recent back-to-back titles holder TP Mazembe of Congo. TP Mazembe will just be crossing the border to Zambia to face Power Dynamos.Zambia football is in the focus, the country having recently thrillingly won the Africa Cup of Nations.Instructively, five of the Zambian AFCON champions play club football at TP Mazembe and will be source of scourge for compatriots in the Dynamos side.Both Sudan giants Al Hilal and El Merriekh enter the fray after first round byes on account of their past good record in the competition. Al Hilal travel to the Central African Republic to face unheralded DFC 9th Arrondissement while El Merriekh visit Zimbabwe for a meeting with Platinum Stars.Uganda Revenue Authority host Mali’s Djoliba in Kampala. The return legs will be between March 6 and 8.In the CAF Confederations Cup, nine clubs in the East and Central African Zone are involved, Simba of Tanzania and St George of Ethiopia picking up the most notable opponents.Simba are first at home in Dar es Salaam against Entente Setif of Algeria while St George welcomes another North African giant Club Africain of Tunisia.ESS jet in this morningMeanwhile, APR’s opponents arrive in Kigali this morning ahead of the Saturday’s clash with APR at Amahoro stadium.The Etoile Sportive du Sahel (ESS) touched base at Kigali International airport at 7.45am aboard Qatar Air from Doha. The Tunisian side will be accommodated at Top Tower Hotel and will use Amahoro stadium for their training session on Friday.ESS, who were given a bye into the first round face APR who ejected Kenya’s Tusker FC in the preliminary round of this year’s lucrative African Competition.

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APR coach expects ESS to go defensive