Egypt registers first-half primary surplus of EGP 3.2 billion    ITFC approves $2.6 billion financing for Egypt    Hitachi to connect Gulf of Suez wind farm with Egypt national power grid    Egypt works on charting cooperation strategies with international institutions for 5 years: Al-Mashat    Maha karara joins AAIB as Head of Corporate Communications, Sustainability    Over 2.4 million newborns examined for hearing impairment: Health Ministry    Netflix releases trailer of Arab adaption of 'Perfect Strangers' film    Balqees to headline concert celebrating launch of streaming giant LIVENow in MENA    Sawsan Badr to be honoured at Aswan Women Film Festival    Al-Sisi follows up on 'Great Transfiguration Project' in St. Catherine    Cairo, London stress need to strengthen cooperation to face climate change    Foreigners account for 22.6% of Egypt's T-bills issuances in 1H 2021: CBE    MP Abdel Hady Al-Qasby calls government to facilitate and support NGOs    Egypt's ambassador to Italy passes away    Egypt confirms readiness to help African countries face terrorism and extremism    An estimated 235 million people needed humanitarian assistance and protection in 2021, an increase of 40% compared to 2020: IOM Egypt    Egypt, DRC discuss water cooperation during WYF    Egypt, DR Congo discuss boosting bilateral cooperation during WYF    Cameroonian police probe assault on three Algerian journalists covering AFCON    Pharaohs start AFCON 2021 campaign with fierce clash against Nigeria    Foreign Ministry opens capacity building course for French-speaking African diplomats    BRICS development bank admits Egypt as new member    Nermien Ismail Schools opens a new campus in O'West    Netherlands Embassy, E7kky Magazine celebrate success of 21 Egyptian women    Women make up 45% of Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority staff    Yas Island hosts travel partners at Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2021    Olaf Scholz becomes Germany's new leader, ending Merkel 16-year historic era    Egypt's trade with Nile basin countries climbs 26% y-o-y in 9 months    The unvaccinated prohibited from entry to Egypt state institutions starting December 1    Egypt's iron and steel exports jump 197% in 8 months    Ethiopia halts work at its embassy in Egypt for 'economic reasons'    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    Brazil calls up 8 EPL players for World Cup qualifying    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Sisi calls on House, Senate to commence second legislative sessions on 3, 5 October    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    Qa'a play showing at Lycee El Horreya Theatre, Alexandria is a must go    On International Museum Day, Egypt opens two new museums at Cairo Airport    Old Cairo's Al-Fustat will be revamped on Egyptian President's directives    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tied with the champ
Marawan Elshafei Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 30 - 08 - 2018

As the Egyptian football league season enters its fifth week tomorrow, it is no surprise that Ahly, the defending champions, and with their new French Manager Patrice Carteron, are on top of the table with 10 points from four games. What is surprising is the newly-born club Pyramids, tied with the champions on points.
Ahly lost their first two points in their league match opener against Ismaili after they drew 1-1 at Al-Salam Stadium. Then, Ahly won three matches, scoring six goals, conceding only one and keeping three clean sheets. Ahly beat Masri 2-0, Wadi Degla 1-0 and Haras Al-Hodoud 2-0.
Pyramids sacked their head coach Alberto Valentim after only three games, in which he got them seven points. They then appointed the 66-year-old Argentinian Ricardo La Volpe as head coach. He won his first game, on Sunday against Dakhliya 3-1, and secured second position for his club on goal difference.
Smouha and Entag Al-Harbi are third and fourth respectively at eight points each.
Zamalek, Ahly's perennial rival, will try to end their arch foe's domination of the league in the last three seasons. As of Sunday 26 August, Zamalek were in fifth place with seven points from three matches. Zamalek's new Swiss Head Coach Christian Gross drew in their first game against Petrojet 0-0, who then found their rhythm and won two successive games against Ittihad of Alexandria 5-1 and Masr Al-Makasa 1-0.
This season, Zamalek are fighting for the Egyptian league, Egyptian Cup, Arab Champions Cup and the upcoming African Confederations Cup season of 2018-2019.
The Suez Canal clubs Ismaili and Masri did not get off to good starts after finishing second and third last year. Ismaili, with their Algerian Head Coach Khaireddin Madowy, has been able to collect only five points from four games. They blew their lead against Ahly in the last minutes of their league opener, then lost their second two points after Petrojet forced a 0-0 draw.
Ismaili lost their third match against Ittihad 1-0. They finally secured their first three points in the fourth week of the league when they beat Masr Al-Makasa 1-0.
Masri, with Hossam Hassan as head coach, started the league with the most disappointing performance of his side in the last four years. However, the 52-year-old coach is aiming for his first title with the Port Said Club. This year, Masri will compete for the Egyptian league, Egyptian Cup and African Confederation Cup.
Masri have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the African Confederations Cup for the first time in the club's history. They finished the group stage in second place after the Moroccan cub RS Berkane. Masri finished with nine points, scored five goals and conceded two.
Alexandria has three clubs playing in the Egyptian league this season: Ittihad, Smouha and Haras Al-Hodoud.
Ittihad, who have the biggest fan base in the city, are fighting this season in more than one competition: the Egyptian league, cup and Arab Champions Cup.
In the domestic league, they secured five points after four matches. They won only one game, against Ismaili 1-0, lost against Zamalek 5-1 and drew two against Arab Contractors and Masri 1-1 and 2-2 respectively.
Smouha, the 2017 Egyptian Cup runner-up, and with Ali Maher as head coach, are aiming to achieve their first title this year.
The Alexandrian club secured eight points up until now. They won two matches against Masr Al-Makasa and Enppi, 2-1 and 3-2 respectively. And they drew two matches against Nojom FC and Geish 0-0.
Haras Al-Hodoud are in the relegation zone, losing three games, drawing one and no wins. Emad Suleiman, Al-Hodoud's head coach, could be the first Egyptian manager to be sacked this season.
The verdict from the first month of league play: there will probably not be a new champion.
Ahly and Zamalek and less likely Pyramids are the only clubs who have the potential to compete for the league. Still, it is hoped the upcoming weeks will continue to surprise with excitement and challenging fixtures.

Clic here to read the story from its source.