BUCS ’ EGYPT TRIP ON HOLD
Neutral venues a possibility
ORLANDO Pirates will have to wait a few more weeks before there is clarity on the status of their African Champions League assignments in Egypt, where the volatile political situation has led to the cancellation of all football.
The Buccaneers are due to play twice in the north African country in the group phase of the competition, with their first trip to Cairo scheduled for early next month.
But the military takeover in the country and subsequent death of demonstrators put those matches in jeopardy – at least as far as hosting them in Egypt is concerned.
Egyptian authorities have already cancelled all football for the time being since the army ’ s ousting of president Mohamed Morsi, and a decision on whether to call off the rest of their domestic season is to be made next week, the Egyptian Football Association said on Tuesday.
Football matches in Egypt have long been seen as flash points for political tensions and, as a result, most matches have been played behind closed doors since last year’s deadly Port Said Stadium massacre in which more than 70 spectators were killed.
Recent violence at matches involving both Al Ahli and Zamalek – the two Cairo clubs who share the same group with Pirates – meant that Pirates were already scheduled to play behind closed doors in Cairo or Alexandria.
But with the escalating tension on Egyptian streets and obvious security risks to travellers, the possibility of both Ahli and Zamalek having to host their home matches at a neutral venue in a third country is now a possibility, African officials suggested yesterday.
Zamalek are in Sudan this week, preparing for the start of the Champions League but Al Ahli, who are the holders of Africa’s top club prize, remain cloistered in Cairo as they prepare for next weekend’s start of the group com- petition.
Ahli and Zamalek are scheduled to play each other first on July 21. For the moment this game is scheduled to take place behind closed doors in the Egyptian capital but if the violence continues could be moved.
The Buccaneers begin their Champions League campaign at home to AC Leopards of the Congo in Soweto next week Saturday, but are then scheduled to travel to Cairo on August 3.