CAF has named Hazem Emam of Egypt, Mark Fish of South Africa and Angola’s Gilebrto as ambassadors for the Champions League and the Confederations Cup for the 2018 season.
The three are past winners of the championships and largely enjoy legendary status in the continent.
They will be officially unveiled Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt during the draws for the Champions League groups stage and the Confederations Cup playoffs round.
They will also assist in the draws process, which will be televised live to millions across the world.
Emam won the Champions League twice (1996 and 2002) and the CAF Super Cup in 2003 in his two spells with Zamalek that lasted over a decade.
He also tasted the AFCON glory with the Pharaohs in 1998. He is amongst the rare breed of Egyptians to have played in Europe after stints with Italy’s Udinese and De Graafschap of Holland.
Fish coined his legend from Bafana Bafana’s historic AFCON triumph in 1996.
A year before he was part of Orlando Pirates’ squad that won the Champions League – making him among the first South Africans to lay their hands on the Holy Grail of African club football.
Gilberto counts as one of the most successful foreigners to play in Egypt. His performances during his eight years with Cairo giants Al Ahly earned him legendary status.
Famed for his swift runs and crosses from the left flanks, he was one of the leitenants of the Jose Manuel’s Ahly squad of the late 2000’s.
He won the Champions League on three occasions 2005, 2007 and 2008.
