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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 August 2000 Issue No. 496 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 24 - 30 August 2000 Issue No. 496
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters African hope holds
By Abeer AnwarThis week, Zamalek and Ismaili paved their way into the semi-final rounds of both the African Soccer Cup Winners' Cup and the CAF Cup. Ahli, however, faces a more daunting task in the African League Champions tournament.
Zamalek started the victory streak. Despite losing 1-0 to Ndiambour of Senegal in their second-leg match in Senegal at Louga, the team won 3-2 on aggregate as Zamalek won 3-1 in Cairo.
As Helmi Tolan, Zamalek's coach, explained, "Our 1-0 loss is a great success. I thank the players for this result because we passed through very difficult situations. First, the trip to Senegal was very tough. The flight took 22 hours. When we reached Dakar, we had to travel a very long distance by bus. The land journey took five hours and the minute the players reached the hotel they went to sleep." Very bad situations indeed. Tolan added that due to exhaustion, the players missed a training session; in order to reach the field, they had to trek a further 35km. The rugged conditions, Tolan asserted, made the team's 1-0 loss quite an achievement.
The match was interesting in itself. Zamalek started the attack and was better than Ndiambour throughout the first half. Despite the sparkling start, however, Ndiambour's Niang was able to score his team's sole goal in the 41st minute. The second half saw change. Although Zamalek was expected to make up for its first-half loss, both teams appeared reckless and tired. It was a monotonous, goalless second half, to say the least.
Ismaili fared far better. After winning the national cup title last week, they added an African one to their bio too -- beating their Ghanaian contender, the Dwarves, 2-0 in the second-leg match of the CAF Cup qualification round.
Naturally, zesty celebrations ensued, as the entire city took to the streets to celebrate their heroes. And the heroes themselves had another reason to celebrate, as Ibrahim Osman, deputy head of Ismaili Club, announced major financial bonuses for the players who proved to be the best both at home and on away turf. He also announced that the team, with its startling performance, had managed to attract a new, young talent, Rami Said. "With Said, Ismaili will gain more power and talent and will be the leader forever," Osman said. That, of course, remains to be seen.
Though Zamalek and Ismaili shone bright, the former champions of the African Champions' League, Ahli, didn't ignite any fires when they played Jeanne d'Arc in Dakar.
Although consistent scorer Alaa Ibrahim put his team ahead after 20 minutes, Assane Ndiaye equalised midway through the second half to put Ahli in a tough spot. Except for an uncounted penalty kick, Ahli's performance was weak. Its defence line was in shambles, unable to block any attacks. The players appeared distracted, as if they had never played before, and the overall concentration and physical fitness levels were way below par. They currently stand at a five-point handicap below Ghana's Accura Club Hearts of Oak, who, after beating Lobi Stars in Nigeria 2-0, head group two with nine points after three straight victories.
The results leave Hearts needing home victories over Lobi in mid-October and Jeanne d'Arc in November to clinch their first final appearance since 1979. This is a surprise run for the team whose odds were, at the start of the championship, far below that of favourites Ahli. They say, of course, that it's all in the mind. Egypt's teams will have to bear that in mind, too.
