BRUCE SIBANDA, HARARE, ZIMBABWE

Monomotapa United, Zimbabwe’s current soccer champions have been handed a tricky draw in the CAF Champions league mini league stage.

They have been drawn in Group B with Democratic Republic of Congo’s TP Mazembe, Nigeria’s Heartland FC and 2007 African champions Tunisian giants Etoile du Sahel.

Group A features two Sudanese sides El Merrirk and Al Hilal, Zesco United of Zambia and Nigerian side Kano Pillars who booted the defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt.

Monomotapa became the second Zimbabwe side to reach the mini league stage after Dynamos.
Monomotapa beat Ivory Coast champions Asec Mimosas 2-1 on aggregate.

Dynamos reached the final in 1998 and the semi-finals in 2008.

Highlanders, CAPS United, AmaZulu, Black Rhinos and Zimbabwe Saints have all tried and failed to progress beyond the third round.

Mono's might have avoided the chance to date Zambian opponents who have proved to be bogey sides to any Zimbabwean side.

In 1989, the then Zimbabwean champions Zimbabwe Saints were knocked out of the African Cup of Club Champions by Zambian side Nkana Red Devils while, Caps United fell at the hands of Red Arrows with Black Rhinos being beaten by Green Buffaloes.

Even at national team level, Zambians have proved to be tricky customers for Zimbabwe.

Rodwell Dhlakama side will have to contend with the might of the Tunisians giants Etoile du Sahel and perennial continental campaigners T P Mazembe as well as Heartland of Nigeria who eliminated last year losing finalists cotton sport of Garoua.

The Zimbabwean debutants will however take solace in having shown little respect even for celebrated outfits after silencing the much pampered South African giants Ajax Cape Town and of course the overly rated Ivorians Asec Mimosas.
According to the drwa winners of the two groups and their runners up go through to the semi-finals, with Group B winners playing the runners up in Group A and vice versa.

The group matches begin on the weekend of 17-19 June, and run through until mid-September.