The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced on Tuesday the timetable of the first half of the new Egyptian Premier League season, set to start on 31 July. Zamalek will face Petrojet on opening day, with holders Ahly kicking-off their title-defending bid against runners-up Ismaily on 2 August. The partial timetable covers the competition's first round of 16 weeks. Port-Said-based Masry, who finished in third place last season, will play their first match against Gouna on 2 August. Cairo arch-rivals Ahly and Zamalek are due to face-off at the end of the first and second rounds, but the dates of both confrontations have not yet been set. (For more sports news and updates and a special World Cup 2018 coverage, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)