6 - 12 December 2001
Issue No.563
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 6 - 12 December 2001 Issue No.563 |
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Time out
Going for the trophy
By Inas Mazhar
On Saturday, Ahli take the first of two giant steps they hope will eventually lead it to the most prestigious club football title the continent has to offer, the African League Champions Cup. To capture the crown for the third time in its history, the Egyptian side will have to get a decent result when it meets South Africa's Sundowns in the first leg in Pretoria. 'Decent' means either a draw or a loss of not more than a two-goal margin. An outright Ahli win in this away match, while possible, is not probable, judging by the recent form of both sides. Ahli has been shaky, losing to Zamalek in the country's famous derby two weeks ago before downing its last two opponents, albeit feeble ones. Sundowns downed strong favourites Petro Atletico of Angola on penalties after drawing on aggregate.
Sundowns have been a revelation of sorts. It is their first appearance in the showpiece of the major Pan-African club championship, which Ahli won in 1982 and 1987 and were runners-up to Asante Kotoko of Ghana in 1983. And though the South Africans were pipped on goal difference by Esperance of Tunisia for a place in the Champions League final last year, they were not the first choice to reach the final this season. They had to get by perennial contenders Esperance and Petro, the first club in the championship's history to win three away matches.
Leading 2-0 from the first leg in Pretoria, Sundowns lost by the same score at the Citadela Stadium only to emerge 5-3 winners on penalties and book a December showdown with Ahli.
They have a boastful Romania-born coach, Ted Dumitru, who claimed before the second leg in the Angolan capital that Sundowns' defenders and midfielders were the best organised on the continent. Dumitru couldn't help but add, "Petro have a slow, clumsy defence that will have to open up as they push forward in search of goals. This will leave gaps for my speedy strikers," the coach added without a hint of modesty. The match did not go according to plan as Petro struck twice, but Sundowns converted their five kicks, much to Dumitru's relief.
Manuel Jose, Ahli's Portuguese coach, must also be breathing easier after the club disposed of Mehalla and Mansoura after crashing to Zamalek 2-1. The loss derailed Ahli's efforts to recapture the national league title from Zamalek after having monopolised it for seven years. The dent to their league aspirations makes winning the African crown that much more important for Ahli.
Ahli's road to the final culminated in a moment of sheer magic conjured up by Sayed Abdel-Hafeez who lobbed the ball over the Esperance goalkeeper from mid-field late in the game for the match winner. While the outcome in Tunis was a shock as home advantage was expected to tell in favour of 1999 and 2000 runners- up Esperance, Ahli had more possession during the North African showdown, providing a psychological edge for the club while playing in Pretoria.
A record $1 million first prize will be at stake when Ahli and Sundowns clash at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria over the weekend and at Cairo Stadium two weeks later. But the clubs have more than just their pocketbooks to egg them on. Reaching the final gives Ahli a chance of salvaging some Egyptian glory after Zamalek and Ismaili bowed out of the Cup Winners Cup earlier this year. And Sundowns hopes to emulate neighbours South African club Kaizer Chiefs who lifted the Cup Winners Cup last week.
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