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Ahly, Zamalek's forgotten players out to prove worth as Arab Championship kicks off
Hatem Maher Published in Ahram Online on 21 - 07 - 2017

Egypt's leading clubs Ahly and Zamalek will have a chance to test newcomers and give some playing minutes to forgotten players as the revamped Arab Championship kicks off on home soil on Saturday.
The Arab Championship, which was formerly called the Arab Champions League, springs back to life following a four-year hiatus, with Ahly facing Jordan's Al-Faisaly at Cairo's El-Salam Stadium on Saturday and Zamalek taking on Morocco's FUS Rabat in Alexandria on Sunday.
The Cairo duo, who won the tournament once, said they will mainly field those who haven't had much time to prove their worth over the course of the season.
Summer arrivals will also be tested, with Ahly being the great beneficiaries as they try to settle on the players they will register in their African Champions League squad before facing Tunisia's Esperance in a mouthwatering two-legged quarter-final in September.
Zamalek, who were eliminated from the Champions League group stage, said the Arab tournament will allow them to make final decisions over those who are likely to depart in the summer.
Ahly were placed in Group A along with Al-Faisaly, Algeria's NA Hussein Dey and Al-Wahda of the United Arab Emirates. Zamalek were drawn in Group B along with FUS Rabat, Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr and Al-Ahed of Lebanon.
"We are taking this tournament seriously and our aim is to win the title," said Ahly's coach Hossam El-Badry, who will miss the group stage for personal reasons.
"We will also give a chance to all the players and prepare for the coming phase.
"The tournament includes famed and strong clubs and I believe there will be a fierce competition for the title. I hope we will be crowned champions."
Cairo and Alexandria will host the Arab Championship from 22 July to 6 August.
The winners of each of the three groups will advance to the semis along with the best second-placed side.
The tournament was last held in 2013 when Algeria's USM Alger clinched the title.
The lucrative financial rewards include a $2.5 million for the winner, equalling those offered by the Confederation of African football (CAF) for its flagship Champions League competition.
The Arab tournament was held over the course of the season from 2003-04 to 2008-09 and named the Arab Champions League as the Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA) sought to emulate the prestigious European Champions League.
Ahly were crowned champions in 1996 when they defeated Morocco's Raja Casablanca 3-1 in Cairo while Zamalek claimed their maiden title in 2003 at the expense of Kuwait club, also at home.
The full groups:
Group A: Ahly (Egypt), Al-Faisaly (Jordan), NA Hussein Dey (Algeria), Al-Wahda (UAE)
Group B: Zamalek (Egypt), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Al-Ahed (Lebanon)
Group C: Al-Merrikh (Sudan), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Naft Al-Wasat (Iraq), Esperance (Tunisia)
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