adminSadomba, Al Hilal’s talisman headed home in the 66th minute off a cross from his captain and midfielder Haitham Mustapha to help the Sudanese giants take what appears a comfortable 2-0 lead over Cercle de Bamako of Mali.
According to reports from Khartoum, the Blue Waves led by a goal at half time before scoring again in the latter stages, making light work of the visitors for a commanding lead that should lay the platform for Al Hilal to see off the Malians in the second leg in a fortnight.
Striker Bakri Almadina broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when he tapped home off a cross from Sudan international Careca before Sadomba’s header made the result more comfortable.
Al Hilal, ousted from the prestigious Champions League are seeking to make amends with a place in the mini-league stage of the second-tier continental club competition and Friday night’s win at home meant they stayed on course to achieve that mission.
On a weekend when Zimbabwe were represented on three fronts in the tournament, former Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa was also in Sudan where his South
African Premiership outfit Black Leopards fought bravely to narrowly lose 3-2 against El Merrikh in Omdurman on Saturday night while Harare giants Dynamos were at home to InterClube of Angola and featured in a goalless draw.
Black Leopards will now fancy their chances of upstaging their Sudanese opponents in South Africa in two weeks time while Dynamos have a lot to play for when they travel to Luanda for the reverse tie against InterClube.
In scoring against Cercle de Bamako, Sadomba took his goal tally for Al Hilal in the Caf competitions this year to four.
The former Dynamos kingpin had scored three goals in the Champions League before Al Hilal bowed out of the competition.
Sadomba who led Dynamos to a Champions League semi-final spot in 2008 also warned the Harare giants to brace for a tough time against InterClube in Luanda.
“Angola is a very difficult destination. We were there last year with Al Hilal for a game against their champions Recreativo and I recall that it was not easy even though we drew 1-1.
“I think the 3-0 win we got in the first leg before we travelled to Angola helped us. But I think Dynamos will need thorough preparations and they will need to be in good physical shape when they go to Luanda because it is also a very hot place.
“They just need to keep their focus and anything can happen. The good thing is that they did not concede at home so it is a new game altogether and it is starting at 0-0 which means a scoring draw will still suit Dynamos,’’ Sadomba said.
Sadomba, who has also previously seen duty at Liga Muculmana in Mozambique is quietly wishing for both DeMbare and Al Hilal to progress and “possibly square off in the Confederation Cup mini-league’’.
But both teams would have to secure results in their reverse fixtures although Hilal have the advantage ahead of their away trip to Bamako.
“I think the first leg win is a good result. We must not relax though . . . we have to work hard because you never know we could be surprised in Mali so we cannot take chances.
“It was also good to resume action by winning in Africa because our league was on a break due to the World Cup qualifiers and the games will resume on Friday and we have to keep working hard to keep our place at the top,’’ said Sadomba.
Sadomba also paid tribute to Chidzambwa’s Leopards whom he said had shown their battling qualities against their bitter rivals Merrikh.
“Leopards have a fighting spirit that impressed many people. They were down 3-0 with about 12 minutes to go but they fought back sand pulled two goals back. They actually finished the game very strongly.
“I think with Mhofu’s experience with African football, they could pull a surprise at their home and go places,’’ Sadomba said.
But for DeMbare who are struggling to make the kind of impact they last made in 2008 when they reached the Champions League last four, the reverse fixture in Luanda remains a tall order.
The reality too is that the Dynamos class of 2012 is not as strong as David Mandigora’s pool of 2008.
Mandigora with the support of a vibrant management team that included chairman Partson Moyo, secretary-general Tawanda Murerekwa and treasurer Clayton Charandura, also ensured they went on the transfer market to strengthen their side with the arrivals of such players like Phillip Marufu from Chapungu and
Carrington Gomba from Hwange.
Whether Callisto Pasuwa’s men can turn on the magic and emulate the feat of the 2008 class, which posted two vital wins away over Etoile Du Sahel (1-0 in the second round) and ASEC Mimosas (2-1 in the group stages) on their way to the semi-finals, remains to be seen.
But where the class of 2008 ended Etoile Du Sahel’s 72-match unbeaten home record in all competitions via a Benjamin Marere stunner in Sousse, the current Dynamos recorded the worst result by any Glamour Boys outfit in the Harare giants’ Champions League when being thrashed 6-0 by Esperance in Tunis at the same stage of the tournament.
That Dynamos have twice failed to go beyond the Champions League in the last two years puts into perspective the decline which this institution has undergone.
Online Reporter