 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
 |
 |
|
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 29 Apr. - 5 May 1999 Issue No. 427
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
|
|
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Focus Special Travel Sports People Features Living Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Déjà vu
The 1998-1999 Premier Football League season ended this week with the standings little changed from previous years. Ahli finished atop the table for the sixth consecutive year, without conceding a single loss. In their 26 games, the red shirts won 21 games and drew five, tallied 46 goals, the best in the league, and allowed only eight, another first.As was the case last year, perennial rivals Zamalek once again settled for second place, although this time a whopping 24 points behind the pace-setters, the largest point spread between first and second place since the league was founded in 1948. Nine points were shaved off Zamalek's total points following the team's walkout in the penultimate match against Ahli. The team was also fined LE150,000 and coach Farouk Gaafar was fired. Gaafar was not the only coaching casualty. In all, 10 coaches were given the axe before the season ended.
The seven-month season was notably shorter than the marathon 10-month stretch witnessed last year.
Ahli's star striker Hossam Hassan ended the season as the league's top scorer with 15 goals, followed by Ismaili marksman Mohamed Abu Greisha and Osama Nabih of Zamalek, each finding the net 12 times.
Aswan and Baladiyet Mehalla dropped to the first division. Baladiyet, which entered the premier division in 1992, finished dead last with a measly 24 points from only five victories and nine ties. Aswan, which has bounced in and out of the premier league for years, said adieu once again, bowing out in poor shape by losing to Zamalek 5-2.
A deciding match between Koroum and Spinning Mehalla will determine the third team to fall out of the premiership, after both clubs finished even with 29 points.
Dina and Qanah, mediocre when at their best, will see another day in the premier division, but former powerhouses like Arab Contractors, Ittihad of Alexandria and Mansoura struggled for much of the season to remain afloat.
Ismaili and Misri of Port Said finished third and fourth in comfortable fashion. For most of the season, though, the big battle was contested in mid-table as only two points separated six clubs by the time the final whistle was blown on Sunday.
.
