Home sweet home
Egypt's three representatives in African football club competitions made the most of their territorial advantage, writes Abeer Anwar
Round 32 of African football club championships got under way this week and all three Egyptian teams proved that there is no place like home.
Defending champions and five-time winners Zamalek totally outplayed Nzoia Sugar of Kenya 3-0 in the first leg match of the Champions League.
Baladiyet Al-Mehalla trounced Police FC of Uganda 4-1 in their opening first leg match in the African Cup Winners Cup. And despite a rusty performance, Ismaili edged Zambians Zanaco 1-0.
In Cairo Stadium on Sunday, Zamalek played a cautious first half, unwilling to venture too far down field for fear of allowing a vital away goal by the visitors. The Egyptians also seemed to have been affected by the league's one-month layoff due to the national team's fixtures and the war in Iraq.
Much of that changed, however, in the second half in which all three Zamalek goals were scored. Abdel-Halim Ali thumped a header 10 minutes after the interval. Hazem Imam, who captained his team to the title last year, returned from injury as a second--half substitute to score from inside the box. Veteran Hossam Hassan, 37, still showed his flare for goals for strike number three.
After the match, Zamalek's Brazilian- coach Capral was impressed. "The players did their best especially in this situation of war plus their match with Ahli next week," Capral said, referring to the crucial derby which will most likely decide this season's league winner.
The second leg will be played on 25 or 27 April in Kenya.
Playing for the first time in the Cup Winners Cup championship, Baladiyet Al-Mehalla did well for debutantes and under the supervision of new coach Farouk Gaafar Seven minutes into the game, Mohamed Sallam scored with a left footed volley while teammate Osama Hamid sent a header in to end the first half 2-0.
Akram Abdel-Meguid made it 3-0 with a short-range header, then 4-0 with a picture-play scissors kick. Police FC's Javery headed his team's consolation goal.
"I am very satisfied with the team's performance and I think we will be able to achieve something in this competition," Gaafar said.
Ismaili, the 2002 football champions, had the most trouble of the Egyptian squads, just squeezing by Zanaco. Ismaili, which was the first Egyptian club to win the championship in 1970, was hardly the club of 33 years ago or last year. It was not until the 45th minute that Amr Fahim rose above all others to head in what would eventually be the winning goal.
Ismaili coach Ali Abu-Greisha made a number of changes in the second half, bringing in Ahmed El-Gamal, Mohamed Abdullah and Mohamed Salah Abu- Greisha to inject new blood but they, too, were out of shape and form.
"We will face a tough and well- organised defence in Lusaka on 26 April. But I think that players will be back in shape after the resumption of league games," Abu-Greisha said.
