TP Mazembe begin title defence

of 2011 African Champions League soccer debuts this weekend.
Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo host Simba of Tanzania as the second qualifying round begins and Ahly of Egypt have home advantage over SuperSport United of South Africa.
There are 10 other former winners in action and only two come into direct contact with the clash between Club Africain of Tunisia and Zamalek of Egypt the major attraction of a 15-fixture schedule.
Since crushing Esperance of Tunisia 6-1 over two legs last November to become the first club to twice successfully defend the title, Mazembe have finished runners-up behind Inter Milan in the FIFA Club World Cup.
But a never-ending domestic and international fixture list began to tell two months ago when the ‘Crows’ struggled to a penalty-shootout victory over FUS Rabat of Morocco to retain the African Super Cup.
A DR Congo squad stacked with Mazembe stars then flopped when defending the African Nations Championship title in Sudan and goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba admitted his team-mates desperately needed a break.
Stars like leading scorer Dioko Kaluyituka got some respite in the shape of a first-round Champions League bye and playing at the Municipal Stadium in Lubumbashi offers the chance to establish a tie-winning lead.
Simba are regular but largely unsuccessful African campaigners who did not impress in the previous round, taking 161 minutes to get on top of minnows Mitsoudje from the Comoros Islands.
But Zambia-born coach Patrick Phiri is nothing if not an optimist.
“I have a squad capable of defeating any team in the Champions League,” he boasted after reaching the last-32 stage.
African Champions League second round, first leg fixtures this weekend
US Bitam (GAB) v Enyimba (NGR)
Dynamos (ZIM) v Mouloudia Alger (ALG)
Al-Merreikh (SUD) v InterClube (ANG)
Diaraf (SEN) v Djoliba (MLI)
Esperance (TUN) v ASPAC (BEN)
Motor Action (ZIM) v ASEC Mimosas (CIV)
Stade Malien (MLI) v Raja Casablanca (MAR)
Club Africain (TUN) v Zamalek (EGY)
Al-Hilal (SUD) v Recreativo Caala (ANG)
TP Mazembe (COD, holders) v Simba (TAN)
Wydad Casablanca (MAR) v Kano Pillars (NGR)
Entente Setif (ALG) v ASFA Yennenga (BUR)
V Club (COD) v Cotonsport Garoua (CMR)
Al-Ahly (EGY) v SuperSport Utd (RSA)
Zesco Utd (ZAM) v Young Buffaloes (SWZ)
Note: Al-Ittihad (LBA) v JC Abidjan (CIV) reduced to single match because of Libyan uprising. Date and venue to be announced. – AFP.