Not enough

The new continental champions hunt for local success as well, writes Mohamed El-Sayed

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"We want to win the national league trophy as soon as possible," said Manuel Jose, Ahli's Portuguese head coach, after his team last week won their fourth African Champions League title. Jose is rushing things; the season is not yet half over. But the Red Devils, the defending champions, are heading quickly towards the right direction.

On Saturday in Cairo, Ahli won their 53rd game without loss, breaking the Egyptian record held by Zamalek whose 52-game unbeaten run was accomplished in 2003. Ahli's record came at the expense of Cement Suez, a 4-0 drubbing in the ninth stage of the National Football League.

Emad El-Nahhas, Ahli's libero, headed the opener for the home side after 15 minutes. El-Nahhas had scored a hat trick against Ittihad of Alexandria a week before.

The ever energetic Mohamed Barakat extracted the ball from a Suez defender in the danger area and provided a selfless, delicious pass to teammate Osama Hosni who found no difficulty in netting the ball in the 22nd minute. Barakat was elected the best African player in a poll conducted by the BBC Website last week, and is widely expected to be crowned the Arab player of the year too. The Arab Football Association has short-listed Barakat along with Sami Al-Jaber of Saudi Arabia and Khaled Saad of Jordan for the prestigious Arab title.

Six minutes into the second half, Barakat sent a cross that was mistakenly knocked into the visitors' goal by defender Wa'el Kamel.

Later, Barakat came face to face with the Suez goalkeeper, but a defender obstructed him, and the referee handed Barakat a deserved penalty kick. There was no doubt about the end product -- Barakat netted his second and his team's fourth.

Barakat is now the top goal-scorer of the tournament with seven goals.

Ahli are now on top of the league table with a perfect 24 points out of eight matches, and still have one game in hand with Misri of Port Said.

Second of the table Zamalek are challenging after claiming an away victory against Ghazl Al-Mehalla on the same day on Saturday. Abdel-Halim Ali hit the winner for the visitors, thus securing his team second place in the table with 22 points, two behind Ahli.

Zamalek was due to play yesterday with Raja Casablanca of Morocco in the second leg of the last-16 stage of the Arab Champions League. Zamalek won 2-0 in the first leg in Rabat two weeks ago.

In other matches in the ninth stage, Ismaili were dealt a humiliating 1-0 defeat at the hands of newly promoted Koroum; Misri drew 0-0 with the Upper Egyptian side Aluminium; Army edged Ittihad of Alexandria 2-1; Enppi edged their neighbours the Arab Contractors 2-1; and Cement Assiut beat the Coastal Guards 2-1.

The schedule for week No 10:

Friday 25 November:

Ismaili vs Cement Assuit; Cement Suez vs the Army; Ittihad vs Misri of Port Said; Aluminium vs Koroum.

Saturday 26 November:

Zamalek vs Enppi

Sunday 27 November:

The Coastal Guards vs Ghazl Al-Mehalla; and the Arab Contractors vs Ahli.