8 - 14 November 2001
Issue No.559
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 8 - 14 November 2001 Issue No.559 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
They don't come cheap
Ismaili are still No 1 thanks in part to a striker Zamalek let slip through their fingers. Alaa Shahine reports on how a few hundred dollars could mean the league crown
If Ismaili are to thank anybody for their perfect record thus far in the league soccer championship, they should look no farther than their nearest rivals Zamalek and an embarrassingly stingy decision by the latter club. Nigerian striker Abdel- Razik Mohamed, who had tried out with Zamalek, was found to be talented but his asking-price too high. A few days later he was shipped off to Ismaili where last week he scored one of the more exceptional goals this season as he helped his club down a stubborn Arab Contractors 2-0.
The win boosted Ismaili's league lead to 19 points, maintaining a two-point lead over defending champions Zamalek who came from a goal down to edge Ghazl Al- Suez 2-1 in Suez. In addition to being still atop the table after seven games, Ismaili could also boast a clean slate while the team's offensive line has found the opposition's net 14 times.
While with Zamalek Mohamed had demanded a $1,000 monthly salary, a drop in the bucket compared to world class fees, but Zamalek drew the line at an even more meagre $700. The day has come, all too soon for Zamalek, for the club to regret having made a song and dance over an extra $300.
Against the Contractors, the lanky Nigerian import received the ball in the penalty area midway through the second half and after faking a shot which put a defender out of position, lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Ahmed Saber, executing a lovely chip shot which many players often try but few get right. The goal was Ismaili's second, cementing its win against a team which had successfully defended its goal throughout the first half. Abdel- Razik could have made it 3-0 had his breathtaking scissor kick not sailed wide.
To add salt to Zamalek's wound, Ismaili's first goal was scored by Abdel-Hamid Bassiouni, a former Zamalek star striker who had been benched throughout most of last season. Bassiouni rose to meet Mohamed Barakat's cross and fired a header into the back of the net to become the league's joint top scorer with Zamalek's Hossam Hassan with seven goals each.
Following the victory, Ismaili's vice- president Ibrahim Osman could not help but poke fun at Zamalek for the off- season acquisitions. "First Bassiouni and Amr Fahim, and now Abdel- Razik," Osman said. "They all have proven to be outstanding players and we would like to thank Zamalek for not signing them this season," he added, the glee dripping from every word.
The team's boss, Mohsin Saleh, was no less excited about his side's dream- like run until now. "We are on the right track. The Contractors are a strong side and I am glad that we outplayed them," Saleh said. "And I am also happy with Abdel-Razik who scored a world class goal and proved to be a good replacement for his compatriot John Otaka," the team's former top marksman who left for Qatar before the beginning of the season.
Saleh added that the selection of six players from his squad to join the national team for the African Cup of Nations in Mali next January was proof that Ismaili are currently the best team in Egypt.
Zamalek remained hot on the heels of the leaders with a hard-fought victory over Ghazl Al-Suez in the same stadium which saw Ahli suffer a shock 2-0 defeat on opening day.
The hosts went ahead in the 30th minute when Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Abdel-Munsif inexplicably let a near 50-metre prayer by Gamal Gad slip into the net. The international netminder said later he was of two minds; to either catch the ball or tip it over the crossbar. He attempted the first but seemed to have misjudged where he was standing, backtracking until he and the ball had crossed the line.
The goal plunged a sold-out Suez Stadium into ecstasy. The goal was, of course, sheer luck but Suez did have the upper hand in the first half, partly due to Zamalek coach Otto Pfister fielding Mohamed Abdel-Wahid in an unaccustomed right wing position to compensate for the absence of the injured Hazim Imam. The switch threw Zamalek's midfield line into disarray.
Suez were close to make it 2-0 a few minutes later after defender Mohamed Kamouna's attempt to return the ball to Abdel-Munsif was quickly intercepted by Hisham El-Adroussi but his effort crashed over the bar.
Zamalek's performance improved following the break after Pfister sent in Abdel-Halim Ali on the right flank, allowing Abdel-Wahid to return to his usual left wing position. The substitution paid off immediately as the visitors got the equaliser in the 70th minute when Kamouna fired from close range.
Substitute striker Gamal Hamza doubled his team's lead 10 minutes later when he took advantage of a mix-up in the penalty area and blasted the ball home. Zamalek's Hassan might have added a third goal three minutes before the final whistle, but he missed his second penalty kick in as many games.
Last week's other games were noticeable for their lack of goals. Four matches ended in scoreless ties, chief among them Ittihad and Goldi in Alexandria. The match marked the return of international keeper Nader El-Sayed to Egypt from Belgium. He went to middle of the table Goldi after being sent on loan by Belgian side Clube Bruges until the end of the season.
Mansura clinched their first point this season against Baladia away from home, Qanah drew with Misri and Sohag drew with Mehalla. Ahli's match against Tersana was postponed to 11 November due to Ahli's commitments in the African Champions League.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
Recommend this page