Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry has insisted he still has faith in his new striker Walid Azaro despite the 22-year-old's sluggish performance in the team's 2-0 victory against Ittihad of Alexandria on Thursday. Azaro, who has scored just twice since joining the Reds this summer, squandered some easy chances, earning criticism from fans and the media. "Azaro joined the team in a difficult period. We were playing in the Cup and in the knock-out stages in the African Champions League. That was a lot of pressure and I think that's what led him to make some bad calls during the games," El-Badry said during the post-match press conference. "Losing chances angers the team's fans, and it disappoints him too. I want the fans to be patient because he does a good job, and I am sure the goals will come at a very important point. I told him that too," the Ahly coach concluded. Azaro joined Ahly this summer from Morocco's Difaâ El-Jadidi for a fee of $1.4 million, but so far hasn't lived up to expectations. A pacey and energetic striker, he has shown poor finishing skills that have left supporters puzzled about his ability to spearhead the team's frontline. In the last game Azaro missed the goal, despite having only Ittihad's keeper to beat—just as had happened against Esperance in the Champions League. The Egyptian Premier League title-holders, Ahly are 13th in the league table on four points after playing two games. They still have three games in hands due to their participation in the CAF Champions League. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
