Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
THREE years after he burst into the Confederation of African Football (CAF) structures, ZIFA communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela was Saturday handed the biggest task of his career as Match General Co-ordinator.
Gwesela presided over the Champions League quarter-final, second leg showdown between South African Premiership kings Mamelodi Sundowns and Egyptian giants Al Ahly at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe stadium.
According to reports from South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns were unable to produce a comeback at home against Al Ahly, with the teams playing to a 1-1 draw.
Defending African champions, Al Ahly, now under former Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, had the advantage ahead of Saturday’s game having taken a 2-0 lead in the first leg at Al Balam stadium in Cairo last weekend.
Ahly were allowed to settle into the game and struck a major blow in just the 11th minute, with Yasser Ibrahim putting them 1-0 up on the day and 3-0 overall. Amr El Soulia got a flick on from a corner kick and Ibrahim nodded the ball home at the far post to put the defending champions in total control of the tie.
Sundowns gradually found their attacking rhythm and were rewarded with a goal on the half-hour mark, as a short corner kick routine saw Aubrey Modiba whip an in-swinging cross into the danger area, allowing Mosa Lebusa to power a header past goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy to make it 1-1 on the day.
The Brazilians were clearly buoyed by their goal and set up camp in Ahly’s territory for almost all of the remainder of the first half, though clear chances were hard to come by against the Red Devils’ well-drilled defence, leaving the teams level heading into the interval.
Sundowns made a double change nine minutes after the restart, with one of their substitutes, Mauricio Affonso, almost making an immediate impact with a header from a free-kick that called El Shenawy into action.
Further attacking changes for the hosts saw Kermit Erasmus and Gift Motupa introduced in the 65th minute, and Downs had a goal disallowed soon after, with Peter Shaluile adjudged to have handled before putting his low shot beyond the keeper.
Sundowns had further attacking chances to try and put some nerves into the Ahly ranks, but a couple of smart saves from El Shenawy and a lack of precision in terms of finishing ensured that the hosts were left frustrated by the final whistle.
Al Ahly will face Esperance de Tunis in the semi-finals next month.
Esperance claimed a 2-0 win over CR Belouizdad in their second-leg match at the Stade Olympique de Radès in Tunisia on Saturday night.
As a result, the tie ended in a 2-2 draw on aggregate and Esperance went on to secure a 3-2 victory over Algerian side Belouizdad on penalties and they advanced to the semi-finals.
For Gwesela, presiding over the match, dubbed the “Champions League final before the final” will remain an experience to savour.
Gwesela has been receiving assignments in the Confederation Cup as well as from COSAFA for their senior men’s tournaments.
The ZIFA spokesperson, however acknowledged that yesterday’s task which began on Wednesday when he arrived in Tshwane to prepare for the game was made even more glamorous by the profile of the teams that were competing.
It was an encounter that had a number of sub-plots chief among them the fact that Mosimane who “created a monster in Sundowns” before his surprise switch to Al Ahly last September.
When Mosimane’s Sundowns were crowned African champions in 2016, it came at the expense of Egyptian opposition – Zamalek – and Masandawana had been hoping to complete a double over North African teams.
Gwesela had Mozambique Football Association chief executive Hilario Victor Madeira as his assistant General co-coordinator at Lucas Moripe.
“I am so elated to be appointed General Coordinator of such a high-profile match. I am grateful for such honour bestowed to me by CAF to take charge of such a match in Africa’s number one prestigious club competition.
“I would like to believe that this is a show of confidence in the work that I have been doing on each of the CAF’s assignments,” Gwesela said.
Apart from Gwesela, Zimbabwe also has former Warriors manager, Sharif Mussa on the books of CAF’s General Coordinators.
World soccer governing body FIFA came up with the concept of the demanding General Coordinator’s role.
It involves, among other tasks that are outlined by FIFA, “painstaking attention to detail, combined with to-the-second timing of the different stages before a match”.
“The coordinator is also supposed to always ensure nothing is left to chance, from the location of the morning meetings to the colours of the shirts, including doping controls and “procedure at the moment of the teams’ entry onto the pitch”.
“Every aspect is carefully planned, including possible emergency situations,” FIFA say on their website.
Saturday’s high-profile showdown also had top Zambian referee Janny Sikhazwe in the centre.
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