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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Champs remain
IN AN all-Egyptian final, Ahli powered its way to the African Winners Cup in volleyball, dismantling arch-nemesis Zamalek in three consecutive sets.
The 60-minute duel was something of an anti-climax as Zamalek posed few problems for the defending champions, going down 21-25, 19-25 and 22-25.
The five-day championship, played in Ethiopia, was marred by the early exit of Zamalek's Hesham Shahin who was sent home, suspended from playing internationals for one year and had his club contract scrapped following an altercation with his coach, Mohamed El-Lakani.
The tournament comprised just a single group following the withdrawal of several Algerian and Tunisian clubs. En route to the deciding match Zamalek and Ahli steamrollered over the competition as neither team lost a single set to Qadesia of Sudan and Mogar, Al-Boun and Alba of Ethiopia.
"I'm extremely happy with the team," Ahli coach Ibrahim Fakhreddin said. "We were more experienced and quicker."
El-Lakani wholeheartedly agreed. "The players let me down," he said. "They played below their level and didn't follow my instructions."
