Football
Ulinzi match with Zamalek postponed over Egypt unrest
Mohammed Amin | Nation Egypt’s Zamalek FC forward Hassan Mostafa beats Ulinzi goalkeeper Francis Ochieng (left) and defender Josiah Odhiambo during their CAF Champions League clash at the Nyayo National Stadium on January 29, 2011
Posted Monday, February 7 2011 at 19:28
The political turmoil in Egypt has made the Confederation of African Football postpone the Africa Champions League return leg tie between Kenya’s Ulinzi Stars and Zamalek of Egypt.
The match, slated for this weekend, will now be played on the weekend of February 24-26 subject to the prevailing conditions in Egypt where citizens are calling for President Hosni Mubarak to resign.
The Egyptian Football Association has also cancelled all football activities in the country.
Ulinzi team administrator Joe Birgen confirmed receipt of a fax from Caf indicating the postponment of the tie.
“Your match has been postponed due to the security situations in Egypt,” reads the letter to Ulinzi Stars signed by Caf communications officer Adla Khaled. “You will be communicated of the exact new date soon.”
Has financial implications
Birgen said they had planned to play the game this weekend and the postponement has affected their plans: “It has financial implications because we will have to keep the team in camp for even longer.”
That also means Ulinzi’s Kenyan Premier League match on day one of the season will be shelved. KPL is yet to release the fixtures.
Zamalek won the first leg 4-0 in Nairobi. Coach Benjamin Nyangweso is however optimistic his boys will give a good account of themselves in the return leg.
“We have nothing to lose. We lost 4-0 in Nairobi, which was an unwelcome result. Now we go to Cairo heavily bruised but we hope we will play better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka’s opponents in the Confederations Cup, Aviacao of Angola, arrive on Friday ahead of the match on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium.
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