PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Zamalek to tackle Ulinzi Stars in African Champs league match
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Egyptian league champions, Zamalek, jet into Nairobi Wednesday for Saturday's Africa Champions League first leg match against Ulinzi Stars of Kenya.
Match officials are due in Friday, according to Ulinzi Stars chairman Phieddy Ndiema.
Addressing the press here Tuesday, Ndiema said the organising committee and Ulinzi had put in place all the requisite security details at the match venue, the Nyayo National Stadium.
It will be recalled that seven soccer fans lost their lives in a stampede at the same venue when traditional rivals, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, clashed in a Kenya Premier League (KPL) tie last October.
The tragedy which left scores injured prompted FIFA to ban the stadium, while President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered a probe into the stampede.
The stampede was caused by the sale of match tickets at the gates.
Impatient soccer fans, some armed with tickets and others waiting to purchase theirs at the gates, surged forward, culminating in the stampede.
FIFA has since lifted the ban and given Kenya the go-ahead to use the 35,000-seat facility, the second largest stadium in Nairobi.
Hosts Ulinzi, a Kenya Armed Forces team, are leaving nothing to chance as the tickets went on sale Tuesday, ending Friday. Tickets will not be sold on the day of the match.
The match between the highly-respected Zamalek and Ulinzi marks the start of the international soccer season in Kenya, as the east African nation will host Angola in a 2012 African Cup of Nations Group J qualifier first leg tie in March.
-0- PANA DJ/BOS 25Jan2011
Match officials are due in Friday, according to Ulinzi Stars chairman Phieddy Ndiema.
Addressing the press here Tuesday, Ndiema said the organising committee and Ulinzi had put in place all the requisite security details at the match venue, the Nyayo National Stadium.
It will be recalled that seven soccer fans lost their lives in a stampede at the same venue when traditional rivals, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, clashed in a Kenya Premier League (KPL) tie last October.
The tragedy which left scores injured prompted FIFA to ban the stadium, while President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga ordered a probe into the stampede.
The stampede was caused by the sale of match tickets at the gates.
Impatient soccer fans, some armed with tickets and others waiting to purchase theirs at the gates, surged forward, culminating in the stampede.
FIFA has since lifted the ban and given Kenya the go-ahead to use the 35,000-seat facility, the second largest stadium in Nairobi.
Hosts Ulinzi, a Kenya Armed Forces team, are leaving nothing to chance as the tickets went on sale Tuesday, ending Friday. Tickets will not be sold on the day of the match.
The match between the highly-respected Zamalek and Ulinzi marks the start of the international soccer season in Kenya, as the east African nation will host Angola in a 2012 African Cup of Nations Group J qualifier first leg tie in March.
-0- PANA DJ/BOS 25Jan2011
