14 - 20 March 2002
Issue No.577
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 14 - 20 March 2002 Issue No.577 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Ahli still at it
In the last two weeks, Ahli met Zamalek three times in volleyball. The showdowns went Ahli's way every time, writes Abeer Anwar
The grand old rivalry between Ahli and Zamalek recently extended to the volleyball courts where Ahli put their cross-town opponents out of business.
Ahli had the upper hand against Zamalek
photo: Kamal El-Garnousi
Ahli beat Zamalek, not once but twice, for the league title. The first game went to the red shirts 3-1, but because both teams finished with 34 points they met again two days later for the decider. Once again Ahli won, going even one step further to beat the defending champions 3-0.
A week later, Ahli added a second title by again beating Zamalek in the cup final held in Aswan, 3-1.
The Ahli sweep consists of four games, counting their 3-1 victory over Zamalek in September to take the Arab Club Cup Championship.
In addition, Ahli's women's team have had a hammer lock on the league and cup titles since 1980.
Fouad Abdel-Salam, who took over as Ahli's coach only six months ago, explains the unprecedented successes. "Volleyball is the No 2 sport in the club," Abdel-Salam told the Weekly. "There are a number of teams of all ages and they are equally cared for. So there are several players who are ready to fill in the gaps when needed."
"We have become one family," added Maged Mustafa, Ahli's captain. "The six starting players are with each other on the national team as well. They know each other by heart and can understand each other just by looking at each other," Mustafa said.
Zamalek's coach Gaber Abdel-Atti has also been given looks but most of them have been dirty. He and his players were warned by club officials to win the cup after their league loss or go find work elsewhere.
So far, Abdel-Atti is still around, attempting to explain his team's recent spate of defeats. "They are full of new faces that are still gaining experience. We have to help them," Abdel-Atti said, adding that delayed player salaries was having a profound effect on the team. "The regulars are always complaining about not receiving their salaries on a monthly basis and this affects their performance and their sense of belonging to the team."
© 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