Egypt's Al-Ahly flew to Harare Wednesday night to meet Zimbabwe's Gunners in the African Champions League (ACL). The six-time CAF Champions League winners play a first-round clash against the Gunners at Rufaro on Saturday. Ahly are in good shape after 2-1 victory away against Assiut Petroleum on Monday. They have now 46 points, topping the league. The Red Devils have demanded they be housed at the five-star Rainbow Towers Hotel, because "other hotels in Harare do not meet their security standards". The super-rich Egyptian champions have given Gunners team manager Wellington Mpandare sleepless nights for the past two weeks. Mpandare has been attending meeting after meeting with the officials from the Egyptian Embassy in Harare in preparation for this big match, according to africa.com on Wednesday. "We are going to be catering for 25 people in their delegation, while they'll have to pay for the extra 21 members they are also bringing here." The Red Devils have also requested to be driven around in a luxury coach once they touch down in Harare. "From the airport they have asked to be picked up by a 50-seater air-conditioned bus, which must be inspected and approved by the Egyptian Embassy officials," Mpandare said. The Gunners will be without skipper Trymore Mtisi, who is a long-term injury casualty, but they could welcome newboy Asani Nhongo who is still to make his debut since joining from Monomotapa. The champions' team manager Wellington Mpandare has revealed that the defender has begun training. "He is being assessed, he is training with the team and by the weekend we will see how he's progressing. Mtisi is definitely out as he's in plaster," said Mpandare, adding that his players are looking forward to playing their fancied opponents. "It's a motivation on its own to play big teams in Africa and it is a platform for the players to market themselves." Meanwhile, Ahly have imposed an LE20,000 (around $3,600) fine on out-of-favour striker Ahmed Belal for hitting out at the club's coaching staff. The 29-year-old, who has been confined to the bench for the past three seasons, has accused Ahly coach Hossam el-Badri of favouritism. Belal says that frontline duo Francis Doe and Mohamed Talaat were named for Ahly's 2-1 win at Assiut Petroleum on Monday because of 'personal preference'. Belal is upset because he has been snubbed despite being 'fit and ready'. The Red Devils sanctioned Belal only several hours after his media statements were released. “According to Ahly's rules and regulations, any player making statements to the media without permission should be fined LE20,000," local media reported on Wednesday. El-Badri has urged the players to temporarily forget the local league and concentrate on their forthcoming match on Saturday.
