Nothing but victories
After five games, Zamalek top the table with a perfect record. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab sees what the club is doing right
Title holders Zamalek had an unusually easy draw at the beginning of the football league season Ñ for the first five matches they have faced no team of consequence. Hence, the club has capitalised on the situation, with a resultant maximum of 15 points and an early lead in the standings.
ZamalekÕs perfect points total has come at the expense of Ghazl Al-Mehalla, Qanah, Mansoura, Tersana and an away victory against Koroum 4-1 last week in what was regarded as one of the best games of the season. An early goal from Hazem Emam, just nine minutes after kickoff, dented the Alex sideÕs hope of at least a draw. The goal did galvanise Koroum which felt it had nothing to lose. Surprisingly the home side threatened ZamalekÕs defence more than once. But the opportunities to tie went begging.
In a subsequent counterattack, Koroum were caught off guard as first-year player Sameh Youssef, assisted by Gamal Hamza, doubled the score in the 43rd minute.
Koroum pulled themselves back into the game when Moroccan striker Said Melodeya reduced the difference to one just a few seconds before the break.
Starting the second half, Zamalek pushed forward seeking an outright victory. But the gaps that ZamalekÕs backfield left were exploited by Koroum which was unlucky not to level.
ZamalekÕs new Portuguese coach Nelo Vingada sought to shore up his defence and brought in Medhat Abdel-Hadi, Tarek El-Said and Hossam Abdel-Aal.
That proved the turning point of that game as KoroumÕs attack began to stumble and Zamalek scored their third goal through Mohamed Mahmoud in the 77th minute. Zamalek controlled the game completely after that. Abdel-Halim Ali crowned their efforts following a solo run in which he fired a superb shot for the final nail in KoroumÕs coffin.
Zamalek have now scored 36 goals in their first five matches and Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed has allowed only two goals. The clubÕs offence and defence are currently the best records in the league.
Ennpi are in second place with 13 points, followed by Ismaili with 11. Misri claim fourth place with nine points.
Despite the victories, Zamalek do have some internal problems which need urgent attention. One concerns the status of veteran forward Hossam Hassan, who has been at odds with Vingada over playing time.
At the clubÕs annual assembly meeting last week there were several posters, written in English and Arabic, plastered on the clubÕs walls which read, ÒLeave Vingada and Stay Hossam.Ó
The relationship between the coach and the player seems to have reached a dead end after Vingada announced he would not reinstate Hassan on the team until the end of the season.
Ennpi, the oil company team which are in only their second year in the league, are in a giddy second place after drawing with Ismaili and winning four games, the last being against Qanah 2-1. Qanah played the last 20 minutes with only 10 players after their goalkeeper was shown the red card but scored their only goal during that period.
Ismaili beat the Border Guards 1-0 with a goal by Hosni Abderabou in the 72nd minute. Ismaili players currently have a full plate, playing in Arab and African competitions in addition to the league.
Ahli consoled their supporters somewhat with a 3-1 win over Misri. The game was sealed in the first half when Ahli scored three unanswered goals.
The win was only the second for Ahli after four games, giving the famed red shirts six points.
Sure to help the club was the return of midfield general Sayed Abdel-Hafiz from injury as well as striker Ahmed Salah Hosni.
Ahli are also expecting to sign a Brazilian, 29-year-old Marcinosh. The player is to get a trial period before signing on the dotted line for $250,000 a year although Ahli insist the figure is not the final word on the issue. It also said the search for other players could extend to Argentina and Cameroon.
In other games, Aswan drew 1-1 with Ghazl Al-Mehalla. Tersana and Mansoura played to the same result.
