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Kingston Nkhatha

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ON-FIRE Kaizer Chiefs striker Kingston Nkatha and Libya-based forward Edward Sadomba continued to hog the limelight at their clubs as the 2014 Champions League began to take shape with the conclusion of the preliminary round fixtures.
Chiefs, back in the continent’s flagship inter-club competition, saw off the challenge of Namibian outfit Black Africa winning 4-1 on aggregate and Nkatha was the architect behind that triumph, scoring a brace in Johannesburg in the first leg which Amakhosi won 3-0.

Nkatha then grabbed Chiefs’ goal when the Soweto giants were held 1-1 in the return leg in Namibia at the weekend.

It was Nkatha’s eighth goal in 13 starts in all competitions this season and for a man who only in August was the target of the boo boys among the Chiefs fans, the former CAPS FC man’s transition has been remarkable.

Chiefs’ English coach Stuart Baxter  told the South African media that he had never doubted the Warriors striker’s qualities even when their fans had turned against the player.

“I have never had any doubts about him. I don’t know if you guys remember when we played AmaZulu and we beat them 6-0. Kingston scored a goal and before then he was getting a lot of stick (from the fans). He was nervous.

“For the next 10-15 minutes after he scored, Kingston Nkatha was world class…I’m not joking.

“He tried everything, his confidence was so high. I have never stopped thinking about those 15 minutes and whenever people boo him I have always had it in my mind that I must not listen to that because I saw his potential against AmaZulu.

“He does have massive potential but I don’t think he touches that potential… not very often,’’ Baxter said.

Chiefs, who remain on course for a potentially explosive second round showdown against Zimbabwe kings Dynamos, will now have to clear the first round threat posed by Mozambique champions Liga Muculmana.

DeMbare were also 4-1 aggregate winners over Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Botswana with Masimba Mambare’s first goal in the Glamour Boys colours and a Washington Pakamisa double sealing victory in the first leg, which the Harare giants won 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium.

Winger Ronald Chitiyo scored in the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture as Dynamos secured an easy passage into the first round.

Just like Kaizer Chiefs, Dynamos must also overcome AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo before they can think of a showdown with the Soweto giants.

While Nkatha was leading the way for Chiefs, Sadomba was proving his worth for Libyan side Al Ali Benghazi who secured their first round passage following a 4-2 aggregate victory over Chad outfit Foullah Edifice.

Sadomba struck a brace in the brace first leg at home which Ali Benghazi won 4-0 and despite winning the reverse fixture 2-0 in Ndjamena, Edifice bowed out of the competition as the Libyans set up a potentially tough assignment against Berekum Chelsea of Ghana.

But Sadomba, who has set himself a target to lead Al Benghazi into the Champions League group stage, said they were bracing for tougher assignments as the competition progressed.

“It’s going to be tough but we have good chances to progress further in this competition. The management is doing their best to make sure we are getting everything we need.

“We also have an experienced coach (Egyptian Tariq El Ashry) and there are some experienced players in our team too. Four of the players we have in our team also recently won the CHAN tournament with Libya.

“Before this competition started we undertook a tour to such countries like Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia and this helped us to have a feel of different types of football and conditions and I think that will work in our favour,’’ said Sadomba.

But just like Dynamos, Kaizer Chiefs and a host of teams that progressed from the preliminary round, Ali Benghazi did not win on the road and Sadomba acknowledged the need to secure results away from home if their teams are to reach the Promised Land.

Champions League preliminary round results:
Diamond Stars  (Sierra Leone) – Raja Casablanca (Morocco)  1-2  (0-6)
Flambeau de l’EST (Burundi) – Diables Noirs (Congo)  1-1 (1-0)
ASFA Yennenga (Burkina Faso) – Diambars (Sénégal)  1-0 (4-2p) (0-1)
Komorozine (Comores) – Young Africans (Tanzania)  2-5 (0-7)
Kampala City Council (Uganda) – Al-Merreikh (Sudan)  1-2 (2-0)
AS Real (Mali) – AS FAR (Morocco)  1-1 (2-2)
Black Africa (Namibie) – Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa)  1-1 (0-3)
Nkana (Zambia) – Mbabane Swallows (Swaziland)  5-2 (0-2)
Rayon Sport (Rwanda) – AC Léopards (Congo)  2-2 (0-0)
Kano Pillars (Nigeria) – AS Vita Club (RD Congo)  2-1 (1-3)
Foullah Edifice (Tchad) – Ahli Benghazi (Libya)  2-0 (0-4)
Horoya (Guinea) – FC Nouadhibou (Mauritanie)  3-0 (1-1)
Stade Malien (Mali) – SC Praia Cruz (Sao Tome et Principe)  5-0 (2-3)
CNaPS Sport (Madagascar) – Liga Muçulmana (Mozambique)  0-0 (0-1)
US Bitam (Gabon) – Gor Mahia (Kenya)  1-0 (1-3p)(0-1)
Côte d’Or (Seychelles) – Kabuscorp (Angola)  1-2 (1-5)
Lioli (Lesotho) – Primeiro de Agosto (Angola) 2-1 (0-2)
BYC (Liberia) – Ashanti Kotoko (Ghana) 1-0 (1-2)
Mochudi Chiefs (Botswana) – Dynamos (Zimbabwe) 1-1  (0-3)
Akonangui (Guinée Equatoriale) – Astres Douala (Cameroon)  0-1 (0-3)
Atlabara (Sud Soudan) – Berekum Chelsea (Ghana)  2-0 (0-3p) (0-2)
KMKM (Zanzibar) – Dedebit (Ethiopia)  2-0 (0-3)
Anges de Notsé (Togo) – Enyimba (Nigeria)  2-1 (1-3)
AS Douanes (Niger) – Zamalek (Egypt) 0-1 (0-2)
NB: Qualified teams in bold.