25 - 31 October 2001
Issue No.557
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 25 - 31 October 2001 Issue No.557 |
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Yellow fever
Ismaili is on top of the football league table and is determined not to step down. Alaa Shahine reports on long-haul confidence
Though only five games have been played, far too early in the season for predictions, Mohsen Saleh is already venturing a guess about his team's ultimate fate. "We are planning to stay on top until the end," the Ismaili coach told reporters after his team's third straight road victory, 1-0 against Mehalla on Saturday. "I know it's a long way off, but we are confident of our abilities."
Those abilities have catapulted Ismaili -- which, like Brazil, wears yellow jerseys and which can at times play with the same panache -- to the top of the league table with 13 points, two ahead of Zamalek, which drew 3-3 in a see-saw road game against newly-promoted Sohag.
Saleh said he was optimistic his side could maintain its lead until the very end and bring the trophy back to the coastal city after an 11-year title drought. Ismaili last captured the title in 1990 in a dramatic season-ending final, and Saleh firmly believes the current squad can emulate its cousins of a decade ago.
"Winning the league is the only compensation our fans will accept after our elimination from the African Cup Winners Cup," Saleh said. "And we have to make it up to them."
But the team, popularly known as "the dervishes," will have to weave a special brand of magic if it is to knock defending Zamalek off its pedestal and bring down Ahli, holder of the crown for seven years before being beaten out last year. And the club could, moreover, face challenges from dark horses, including giant-killers Sohag, whom it meets on Friday in Ismailia.
Sohag has yet to win a game in the league, but it hasn't lost either, adding Zamalek to its string of stalemate matches. While most draws can make for dull viewing, this 3-3 thriller proved pure entertainment. Zamalek had a two-goal lead, only to allow Sohag to score three unanswered goals. Late in the game, Hossam Hassan was hero and culprit almost at once, equalising for Zamalek but failing to convert from the spot with two minutes left.
Hassan gave Zamalek the go-ahead goal, netting from close range. His Ghanaian partner Ahmed Felix quickly made it 2-0 with a picture perfect header.
However, the hosts opened the floodgates in the second half, finding the net three times through Walid Said, who broke through twice, and Harbi Tawfik before Hassan spared Zamalek's blushes with the equaliser. But the veteran soon found himself red in the face when his penalty shot was saved on the line.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Zamalek's assistant coach Helmi Toulan blamed the field for the performance. "It affected us badly," Toulan said, failing to add that Sohag was playing on the same pitch.
"Our team plays modern football that depends on accurate and quick passes, but the ground was anything but helpful today. We dominated the first half and we would have won had Hossam scored," Toulan added. He, however, did give credit where it was due. "They played valiantly," Toulan said of Sohag. "They were two goals down but went ahead and that is very impressive."
Sohag coach and former Zamalek star Gamal Abdel-Hamid hailed his players performance as "an absolutely superb job." Shortly before the kick-off, Abdel-Hamid was involved in a freak accident which prevented him from seeing most of the match. He had tried to open a stadium door when its window pane fell, cutting his arm. He was taken to Sohag Hospital where he was stitched and bandaged up and returned to the stadium just 10 minutes before the final whistle, in time to see his team take a precious point from the league champions.
"I would like to thank my assistant coach Esmat Khalaf for following my instructions and for all the hard work he did during the match," Abdel-Hamid said.
The draw probably prevented Zamalek's coaching staff from being sacked on the spot. Rumours continue to float that club management is busy negotiating with Qatar's former coach, Gamal Haji of Bosnia. Haji himself confirmed the news. Appearing on Qatar's satellite television channel Al-Jazeera last week, Haji said he would soon visit Cairo after receiving an offer from Zamalek. Zamalek Vice President Mourtada Mansour has denied the report, but club sources say Mansour, along with board members Hani Zada and Yasser Idris, are in fact spearheading the drive to line up Haji.
Another anticipated clash will feature Port Said outfit Misri against Ahli in Port Said. Misri is currently in seventh place on six points, equal with Ahli but trailing on goal difference. Ahli has two matches in hand, against Mansoura and Baladia, because of the team's commitments in the African Champions League.
Zamalek will take on the Arab Contractors in Cairo, bottom of the table team Mansoura hosts Mehalla, Goldi will play surprise package Ghazl Al- Suez and Baladia goes up against Qanah.
Last week, the Contractors thrashed Goldi 4-1, Qanah edged Mansoura 2-1, Ghazl Al-Suez got by Tersana 1-0 and Ittihad played to a scoreless tie against Misri.
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