Bucs' game in limbo

Conflicting signals are emerging from Cairo about Orlando Pirates' upcoming trip for the African Champions League clash against Al Ahly, but no official changes have been communicated to the club, who plan to leave for troubled Egypt on Thursday.

Reports suggest a possible postponement of Sunday's scheduled Group A match against the holders because of the political crisis in the country, the deaths of demonstrators at the weekend, the absence of a venue and a row over playing in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

But the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have communicated no changes and Pirates say they are sticking to their original plan.

That means leaving on Thursday, arriving Friday, training for two days and playing on Sunday at the Air Force Stadium in Cairo at 10pm.

But Egyptian press reports say the military authorities have told Al Ahly they will no longer be able to stage the game at the venue.

Demonstrations against the recent coup in Egypt have seen crowds beginning to target the military installations, which led to the weekend shooting which has horrified Bucs coach Roger de Sa and his players.

Last week, Al Ahly's game against fellow Egyptians Zamalek at the start of group competition, was moved to the seaside resort of El Gouna, some 380km from Cairo.

However, because there are no floodlights there, the match had to be played in the afternoon, while the players were fasting. Al Ahly players have since said they do not want to play under those conditions again and want a postponement.

But Ramadan has never before caused a postponement in African football. Instead, during Ramadan in north Africa , matches are moved to a late-night kick-off, allowing players and spectators to break their fast at sunset and then head off to the football.

Al Ahly therefore need to find a venue with adequate floodlights outside both Cairo and Alexandria, where a ban on football is now firmly in place.

The regime in Egypt fears crowds gathering at a soccer stadium are a potential flash point for more violence and are highly unlikely to allow any spectators wherever Pirates end up playing Al Ahly.

It's Al Ahly's responsibility to set the date and kick-off time and organise the venue, but surprisingly their club website last night quoted coach Mohamed Youssef as appealing to Caf and the Egyptian government to find the club a venue to host the South Africans.

"We are looking for any stadium that could allow us to play at night," he was quoted as saying.

Caf yesterday confirmed Pirates' striker, Kermit Erasmus, cannot play for the club in the Champions League because he is cup-tied.

The rules state players can't compete for two different clubs in an African club competition in the same year, but Pirates were hoping that, because his appearances for Supersport United were in the African Confederation Cup, he might be allowed to participate in the Champions League.

The answer from Caf headquarters was a resounding "no".