Zesco, Buffaloes kickoff African campaigns

Zesco United and Green Buffaloes tomorrow kickoff their African club cup campaigns with away ties in the Caf Africa Champions League and Confederations Cup respectively.

Zesco, who are making their Champions League debut, are away to Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in Kampala.

Buffaloes are in Zanzibar where they take on hosts Chipukizi in Pemba.

This will be Zesco’s second outing in continental club cup competition after participating in the 2006 CAF Confederations Cup second round after they were eliminated out by Township Rollers of Botswana.

One person who will be looking forward to making his mark in this years tournament for Zesco will be midfielder Rainford Kalaba.

Kalaba has just had a forgettable Africa Cup campaign and will be looking forward to replicate his impressive club campaign from last season to Africa.

Kalaba and striker Enoch Sakala were Zesco’s joint top-scorers on 13 goals last season are both expected to lead the Ndola team’s in attack.

Zesco are also boosted by off-season arrivals -with three of the four signings attackers.

They are Signs Chibambo from Nakambala Leopards, Lottie Phiri of Young Arrows including Elson Mkandawire.

Mkandawire is the subject of a controversial move from Power Dynamos to Zesco although the former have temporally cleared the striker to play for the former.

Zesco must be wary of the two-time Ugandan league champions who are unbeaten in all their last three home games in Caf competitions since making their debut in 2006.

URA have two wins and one draw from last years CAF Africa Champions League home games but have yet to make it beyond the second round of the tournament.

And in their 2007 CAF Africa Champions League outing, URA failed to make it past the first stage after drawing 0-0 at home in the return leg against Cotonsport of Cameroon.

URA were eliminated 3-0 on aggregate by Cotonsport after losing to the latter in the first leg.

The Zesco-URA return leg match is scheduled to be played in a fortnight’s time either at the Trade Fair in Ndola should the venue pass CAF inspection.

Zesco has revealed Nchanga Stadium in Chingola is the alternative venue should the Trade Fair not pass its final inspection.

And in the Confederations Cup, Buffaloes will be hoping for a better performance in this years tournament after their first round eject in 2007.

George Lwandamina has made three off-season signings with the pick of the trio being the talented Lusaka Dynamos teenage midfielder William Njobvu who expected to make his debut and hopefully inspire Buffaloes to an important away win.