27 Sep. - 3 Oct. 2001
Issue No.553
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 27 Sep. - 3 Oct. 2001 Issue No.553 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
On shaky grounds
Less than a week into the new soccer league season and already coaches are playing musical chairs. Alaa Shahine reports on the game's hot seat
Just a day after his side's 3-1 defeat away to Mehalla, Misri's coach Mahmoud Abu Regeila threw in the towel after he was roundly booed by his club's supporters, becoming an early season casualty.
"I was the subject of a smear campaign even during the off-season," claimed Abu Regeila, who led Misri last season to a respectable third place behind powerhouses Zamalek and Ahli. "I know that Misri supporters always want to win but I am working in an unprofessional environment. Therefore, I decided to leave the club and give management a chance to restore stability," Abu Regeila added.
Abu Regeila was not the only coach swirling in controversy in this new Click- GSM-sponsored season. Sources at Goldi, formerly Maadin, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the club, headed by businessman Ahmed Bahgat, is negotiating with Ahmed Hashim to replace the team's current coach, Mohamed Saad.
However, Hashim, who came to Egypt six months ago following a 20-year stay in France where he worked as a trainer at Paris' Saint German's youth academy, refused to confirm the reports. "I have received several offers to coach in Egypt," he told the Weekly. "But I haven't decided on my next destination."
Tersana, too, is in a state of flux after German coach Varner faced two no- confidence votes by management in less than a month. As a result, Varner was apparently sacked by the club's football coordinator and board member Mustafa El- Kelani only to be saved by a last-minute reprieve by club president Hassan Farid.
Other coaches facing the axe are Ismaili's Mohsen Saleh and Zamalek's German coach Otto Pfister after their respective teams crashed out of the African Cup Winners Cup this week. Mohamed Salah, of Baladiat Al-Mehalla threatened to resign shortly before the season's opening day following a row with a board member over his decision to bench team star Ahmed Farouk.
Despite the battle for what they view as better coaches, most teams should appreciate the fact that they have only a modest chance of winning the league crown, no matter who is at the helm. Indeed, only seven teams have won the league trophy since the competition was founded in 1948. Ahli has won the lion's share with 29 titles, while Zamalek was crowned nine times and Ismaili twice. Tersana, Olympic, Mehalla and Arab Contractors have all lifted the trophy once each.
While coaches were in the headlines, so was the movement of the Egyptian pound. Before the season began, during the four-month summer hiatus, off- season acquisitions were anything but languid.
The league's 14 teams spent approximately LE20 million (around $4 million) during their summer shopping spree, an Egyptian record, but $60 million less than what Spanish giants Real Madrid spent for signing up French star Zineddin Zidane.
Zamalek was the biggest spender, signing five players for LE6.5m, including former team star Hazim Imam for LE3 million, the most expensive deal in local history.
Rida Seeka, plucked from Ismaili, hardly broke sweat in his new Zamalek jersey before moving to Saudi club Ahli on a one-year loan worth $600,000. The step was taken upon the player's request after what he described as "Zamalek's cold reception." Seeka claimed that not only was his annual LE120,000 salary withheld but was told to leave his residence at one of Cairo's four-star hotels and rent a flat instead for LE800 a month.
Ahli's shopping list was the second costliest after it splurged LE3.5 million on three players, including a high LE1.5 million for Mansoura midfielder Reda Shehata.
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