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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 May 2000 Issue No. 481 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 May 2000 Issue No. 481
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Features Interview Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Femmes fatales
By Abeer AnwarAhli will be sending their best table tennis players to the club World Cup in China. And not one of them has a moustache.
In a smashing display, the club girls up-ended their opposite numbers by winning the African club championship, thus qualifying for the 13 to 25 May World Cup. Neither accolade was bestowed on the men.
Ahli's girls blanked Nigeria's Smasher Lagos 3-0 at the climax of the four-day tournament held at the indoor hall of Cairo Stadium. Only one other team, Tunisia's Asmant Benzert, took part, but the way the girls of Ahli were playing, they would probably have torn apart any other team that tried to stand in their way as the breakdown of scores showed all too well. Bassant Othman beat Nigeria's Atis Adama two sets to one (21-17, 19-21, 21-18). Teammate Shaimaa Abdel-Aziz walloped Aniki Mondiat 2-0 (21-8, 21-9) and Nevine Atef beat Modana Malik again two sets to one (21-18, 14-21, 21-19).
In the who-longer-cares men's competition, Smasher Lagos made amends by finishing first while Egypt's Zamalek and Ahli came second and third and Asmant Benzert fourth.
It was not only the women who outshone Ahli's men, Africa's title holders, Zamalek, got the better of them too, beating the defending champions 3-1. Zamalek's Ashraf Sobhi defeated Sherif El-Saket 2-1. Teammate Ahmed Saleh beat Sherif Diaa with the same result. Ahli's Amr Reda kept his club afloat after getting by Zamalek's Emad Meselhi 2-0, but Ahmed Saleh sealed his team's victory after beating El-Saket 2-1.
Zamalek then swept comfortably by Asmant Benzert 3-0 and were poised for a first-time entry to the World Cup before coming up against a brick wall in the shape of the Nigerians. The 3-1 win gave Smasher Lagos the title and Zamalek a headache.
"It's really upsetting since the team was the most qualified to win the title and qualify for the world championship," Hussein El-Semari, Zamalek's sports activity manager, said. "But the players were far below their normal level. The fighting spirit they showed against Ahli vanished against Nigeria."
The girls of Ahli after their table-topping victory
photo: Salah Ibrahim
Sobhi, one of the pillars of Zamalek, had one explanation. "We didn't have enough time to take our breath after the league tournament so we neither prepared well nor were rested enough before the African tournament," he said.
Going into the championship, Zamalek had the momentum, having broken Ahli's five-year hold on the league title. As a result, Ahli had some unfinished business in the African championship. But the opening loss to Zamalek set the tone for the red shirts for the rest of the tournament. Although they next beat Sudan's Khartoum and Asmant Benzert 3-0 each, the Smashers proved smashing, beating Ahli 3-2. El-Saket beat Lay Gergi 2-0 (21-16, 21-17). Nigeria's Monday Heir levelled the series at 1-1 after beating Diaa 2-0 (21-17, 21-18). Amr Reda put Ahli again ahead after beating Boddi Abedon 2-1 (21-10, 20-21, 21-18). Monday put the see-saw at a tie again after beating El-Saket 2-1. Gergi made the difference in the end, beating Diaa 2-1.
"The team went through hard times after losing the league title," Ahli coach Ahmed El-Dawlatli said. But he suggested his club had no excuses for losing, having trained in Germany for one week and playing seven friendly matches.
This was the second African club championship and the first since 1983, the hiatus due to financial constraints which prevented many African countries from participating.
