Zamalek's handball team claimed four major titles in just one year. The last title to complete the quartet was winning the African Champions Winners Handball Cup earlier this week in Morocco. In a hard-fought battle, Zamalek beat arch rivals Esperance of Tunisia in the final 26-25. Led by former Egypt giant goalkeeper Ayman Salah, Zamalek played a thrilling match that held the breath of a high spectator turn-out. Zamalek managed to snatch a last-second goal with a penalty. Salah, dubbed as the ‘General' by his players and media was Egypt's top goalkeeper for almost two decades and had been one of Egypt's legends in the golden era of Egyptian handball in the nineties and early 2000s. The victory was the fourth for Zamalek in a calendar year. The run had started last October when the White Knights clinched the African Champions League title from another Tunisian side, Club Africaine. The event was also held in Morocco but the final match was an easy go for the Egyptian team which had dominated the entire game as they beat their opponents with a hue margin 35-22. Locally, Zamalek overpowered its two closest rivals this season, Ahly and Heliopolis, deservingly capturing the titles of both the Professional Handball League Cup and the Egyptian Federation Cup. Zamalek had secured both national titles even before the conclusion of the national season. The Federation Cup saw superstar Ahmed Al-Ahmar, chosen Africa's best handball player, lead his teammates of Zamalek against their chief rivals Ahly in the final of the Federation Cup which was held in Ismailia. Zamalek has beaten the red team of Ahly four times this year which, based on the rivalry history and head-to head between the two clubs, could be considered a fifth achievement by the whites.
