The closer you are
Only slivers of sunlight separate the top three teams in the Egyptian football league, reports Ahmed Morsy
Despite the current cold weather, the Egyptian domestic league heated up after only one point separated the first three teams in the table. Title holders Ahli, who are bidding for their eighth successive league title, are currently second with 30 points, one behind leaders Haras Al-Hedoud, and with one point separating them from Zamalek who are third.
In the 14th week of the league, Ahli returned to their winning ways and continued to pile the pressure on Haras Al-Hedoud after defeating Smouha on Saturday night 3-1.
Playmaker Abdullah El-Said scored his fourth goal of the season to give Ahli the lead after 19 minutes following a superb individual effort. El-Said gathered the ball on the left flank, and raced into the area before turning his marker inside to send a left-foot shot that wriggled under former Ahli goalkeeper Palestinian Ramzi Saleh and into the net.
Just two minutes before the break Smouha's in-form Ghanaian forward Samuel Affum equalised with a brilliant curling strike.
Ahli were awarded a controversial penalty in the 71st minute when Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagi and El-Said both fell to the ground after exchanging passes in the area. The referee pointed to the spot though it was not clear whether either of them was fouled.
Spot-kick specialist Mohamed Abu Treika, who replaced Mohamed Barakat during the interval, sent goalie Saleh the wrong way with a low shot to give Ahli the lead for good.
Gedo secured the win with two minutes remaining when a smart move saw him escape his marker to fire home from close range after connecting with a low cross from midfielder Shehab Ahmed, who replaced Mohamed Shawki who left injured. Shawki will be out for at least three weeks.
"Shawki is undergoing an individual rehabilitation programme and he will need at least three weeks to get back to training," Ahli team doctor Ehab Ali was quoted as saying on the club's official website.
Ahli assistant coach Mohamed Youssef was delighted with his team's 3-1 victory, stressing that the Red Devils are going to get even better. However, Ahli coach Manuel Jose criticised the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for the tight schedule of the national league.
"What the EFA is doing in the Egyptian League is unique. I never saw something like this anywhere else," the 65-year-old said during Monday's training session.
"We play almost every three days. This is so stressful and exhausting," Jose added.
Jose warned that his players would not be able to handle the pressure for long.
"The players' muscles need to rest and they have to relax more, otherwise they will be booked more and more," he added.
At the beginning of the current season, the league stopped for 40 days due the Egyptian Olympic team's qualifications for the 2012 London Olympic. The EFA also decided to cancel its relegation system this season after the clubs protested because of the financial troubles they suffered after the competition was halted last season in response to the 25 January Revolution. As a result, the league teams increased to 19 from 16, which meant each team will play 36 games, hence the crowded fixtures.
"Suspending the league at its beginning for 40 days because of the Olympic team is nonsense," Gamal El-Zuheiri, Akhbar Al-Riyada editor-in- chief, told Al-Ahram Weekly.
"There is no country that runs its league the way we do in Egypt. There was no good reason to suspend the league then stuff it with games."
El-Zuheiri added that the regularity of games is the basis for any league to be successful and censured the EFA and its competition committee for such disorder.
Elsewhere, Haras Al-Hedoud maintained their stunning league run with a 10th successive victory after beating Petrojet 3-0 in Suez Stadium, thanks to goals from Ahmed Eid Abdel-Malek, Islam Ramadan and Ahmed Hassan Mekki. The military club, who has tasted just one defeat so far this season, remains in first place with 31 points, while Petrojet remain in 13th on 11 points.
"The match was really difficult, and I want to thank all the players for their persistence and for winning," Tarek El-Ashri, Al-Hedoud's coach said after the game, pointing out that Petrojet are a talented team with an experienced coaching staff.
"Although we played for more than 30 minutes without key goalkeeper Wael Khalifa, we proved that Hedoud have become a major power," El-Ashri said proudly.
El-Ashri did not forget to praise young goalkeeper Mohamed Nader, making his first appearance in the domestic league, replacing striker Ahmed Abdel-Ghani, after the referee showed the red card to goalkeeper Khalifa.
On Sunday, newcomer Razak Omotoyossi had a bright brace to inspire Zamalek to a 2-0 victory over Ittihad in Alexandria. The Benin striker scored a goal in each half to take his tally to three as Zamalek secured their third win in a row to narrow the gap on leading duo Haras Al-Hedoud and Ahli in the Egyptian league.
Ittihad, who were to be relegated to the second division last season eventually remained in the top division following an abrupt change of regulations. They are 10th on 15 points.
Meanwhile, Zamalek signed Cameroonian midfielder Alexis Mondemo to a three-and-half-year contract from Tunisia's Club Africain for $1.5 million.
"I promise to do my best to help Zamalek win trophies again," Mondomo told reporters after signing the contract on Sunday.
Under coach Hassan Shehata, Zamalek are working to end their seven-year Egyptian Premier League title drought by adding to their squad during the January transfer window. The club also signed Enppi's midfielder Islam Awad on Saturday. Awad penned a three-year- and-half contract which cost Zamalek LE6 million, due to be paid on instalments. Moreover, Zamalek officials also landed Al-Gouna's defensive midfielder Nour El-Sayed for the same period.
Again in Zamalek, goalkeeping coach Ahmed Suleiman has insisted that there is no turning back from his decision to leave the club. The decision was reportedly for financial reasons.
Meantime, Hossam Hassan has been announced as Misri manager for the second time following the sacking of Talaat Youssef, according to the club's official website.
The Port Said club tapped Egypt legend Hassan after firing Youssef following a disappointing 2-0 defeat by league debutants Dakhleyia on Saturday.
The 45-year-old will be assisted by former Misri star Tarek Suleiman, whereas his twin brother Ibrahim will take the football director post.
Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim announced on Sunday that on the occasion of the first anniversary of the 25 January Revolution the ministry decided that the Ahli and Police Union match, scheduled for 18 January, will be for free.
Ibrahim added that a large number of police officers would give out the Egyptian flag to fans before the game so as to encourage them to celebrate on the anniversary of the revolution which also marks Police Day.
The 15th week of the league was scheduled to start yesterday. Smouha was to host Misr Lelmakassah and Misri Enppi while Ahli was due to meet fourth-placed Police union.
Leaders Haras Al-Hedoud play Al-Gouna and Arab Contractors host Ismaili, currently sixth in the table with 21 points. Zamalek meet Dakhlayiah in Cairo Stadium.
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