26 April - 2 May 2001
Issue No.531
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 26 April - 2 May 2001 Issue No.531 |
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Time to make amends
In Morocco, Ahli's handball teams produced mixed results at the opening of an African handball championship. Inas Mazhar reports from Meknas
Trying to shake off the effects of losing three major local championships, Ahli won its opening game in the African Handball Cup Winners Cup for clubs in Morocco. The 29-17 win against Algeria's Skikda is the first step on the road to a major title and could compensate Ahli for the loss of the league title, cup and super cup-- all, by the way, going to rivals Zamalek.
Ahli's girls, however, lost their opening game against Etoile of the Congo 24-16 despite levelling 9-9 at the half.
Coach Mossad Abbas blamed the women's loss on a lack of experience. "We have been absent from African competitions for almost two years. We have no national team. I don't expect to win the competition with the giants we're facing. But it's a good opportunity for the team to play more and gain experience. We will never improve unless we play with the strongest teams on the continent."
The competition started on Sunday on a controversial note after a two-day delay caused by the late arrival of players from the Democratic Republic of Congo who were stuck at their hometown airport. They arrived in Morocco late.
Prior to the start of the competition, Confederation Africaine de handball (CAH) Secretary-General Mansour Armou of Benin initially said no team would be allowed entry into the competition after the draw was concluded. The Congolese, however, were allowed to participate. The CAH turnaround on the Congolese squad could be connected with some extra money. The CAH collects from each participating team 70 Swiss francs per person every day for 15 days -- even though the event will be held for only seven days. The organisers take 50 francs while the CAH pockets the remaining 20.
The CAH about-face has been the only hitch thus far in the tournament. Eleven men's teams are divided into three groups, except for Group B where Ahli is placed with Skikda and Cameroon's Army Forces.
The women's event was divided into two groups comprising nine teams. Group A includes Ahli.
The first two teams from each men's group -- a total of six -- go to the second round where they will be divided into two groups of three teams each. They will play a round robin tournament, the winners of which will play for the cup.
The women's event is simpler; the first two teams in each group go to the semi-finals while the rest play for places from fifth to ninth.
In preparation for the championship, the boys of Ahli went to Hungary for 10 days where they won the three friendlies they played. Head coach Gamal Shams described the trip as fruitful. "Its biggest achievement was that the players regained their confidence which they had lost in Cairo," Shams said. "They have gotten over it and are concentrating on this event. They want to win the title to reconcile with their fans and club officials."
The women went to Romania for 10 days to train during which they won two games and lost four.
Because the hotel where the Egyptian delegation is staying has no TV sets, Shams was forced to rent a set and a video in order to watch other competitors and explain the game plan to his players.
Matches start at 9.00pm local time. All the games are being held at the same venue, Al-Masirah Al-Khadra Hall.
Second round matches start today.
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