Red end

The football league concluded with Ahli celebrating an outstanding 30th championship. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab has only praise for a team that won it all

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photo: Amr Gamal

Beating Mehalla in the last week of the league was anti-climatic for Ahli, who locked up the crown a remarkable seven weeks ago.

But for the record Ahli beat Mehalla 2-1 to finish the season undefeated and an incredible 31 points ahead of the second place finisher. They garnered 74 points for the highest score in the history of the Egyptian league, in the process winning a world record -- albeit disputed -- 17 successive victories and drawing just twice.

Ahli picked up all the accolades and prizes on offer this year. They had the best defence, conceding only 13 goals. They had the most potent offensive line, scoring 59 goals. Their rookie striker, Emad Meteib, was the league scorer with 15 goals. And their Portuguese coach Manuel Jose, was selected the year's best coach.

For their efforts, each player will pocket a minimum LE70,000 as a bonus.

Ahli beat Mehalla easily. Emad El-Nahhas shot a bullet in the 45th minute for Ahli's opener. In the second minute of injury time Mehalla drew after an own goal by star defender Wa'el Gomaa. Early in the second half, Ahli took the lead again for good after Osama Hosni headed in.

Ahli have now been crowned champions 30 times, runners-up 10 times and third place finishers three times. Three times they ended up in fourth place and once each in sixth and seventh place.

Arch rivals Zamalek have taken the title only 11 times and were bridesmaids 27 times. They came third six times. Once they were fourth and twice fifth. Their sixth place finish this year was unprecedented and their lowest in more than a decade.

As a result, Zamalek, which ended up with a measly 36 points, sacked Brazilian manager Carlos Cabral after less than five months in charge. The club won just one game from their last 12 outings, giving them the worst record of any club in the second half of the season.

The Brazilian, popularly known as Cabralzinho, had taken over from former Bundesliga coach Dragoslav Stepanovic who was dismissed in November after a poor start to the season.

It brings to an end the 59-year-old's second spell in charge after he led Zamalek to the 2002 African Champions League title and the Super Cup.

Cabral, who was on an 18-month contract, also refused to attend the team's last training sessions because, he claimed, he had not received his last monthly salary.

The club is currently courting Theo Bucker, the former German coach of Ismaili.

Finishing in second place this year was Enppi with 43 points, followed by the Border Guards, Ismaili and newcomers Suez Cement.

At the bottom of the table, Baladiyet Al-Mehalla, Mansoura and Tersana were relegated to the first division. Promoted were the Arab Contractors, Aluminium of Naga Hammadi, and either Tanta or Koroum of Alexandria.