The summer football transfer market had its share of surprises, reports Ahmed Morsy Not surprisingly, Ahli and Zamalek topped the list of signing new players as they reload for the new season of the Egyptian domestic football league. In addition to the extensive player transfer moves, the renovations included coaching jobs in Zamalek and Ismaili. Title holders Ahli have made five transactions so far, including two strikers, a playmaker, left winger and a defender: El Sayed Hamdi from Petrojet, Ahmed Shedid from Misri, Enppi's former playmaker Walid Suleiman, defender Mohamed Naguib from Police Union and Brazilian striker Fabio Junior. Petrojet striker Hamdi, who was already enlisted in Ahli's African squad and made his debut against Moroccan side Wydad in the African Champions League, signed a five-year contract with Ahli a month ago. The transfer cost the club LE5 million. In addition Petrojet acquired Ahli youngster Mahmoud Toba who played last season for Misr Lilmakassah on loan. Left winger Kenawi rejoined Ahli, signing a four-year contract after Ahli paid a LE1.5 million minimum-fee-release clause stipulated in Shedid's contract to reacquire the services of their former youngster. Ahli's coach Manuel Jose's interest in Shedid came as a surprise to many since the Portuguese was the one who ditched the minuscule full back three seasons ago. Regarding Suleiman, Ahli finalised the move of the Egypt playmaker from Enppi for LE8 million. Enppi announced that the transfer fee included 25 per cent of the player's next sale to any other club. Ahli had been chasing Suleiman since he was playing in Petrojet, however, the team preferred to sell him to Enppi, another petroleum team, last season. Naguib penned a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, however, reports suggest that Police received LE4.5 million for the services of the defender. The 28-year-old Naguib established himself as one of the toughest defenders in the domestic league last season, earning his Egypt debut under Hassan Shehata in January. Concerning the fifth deal, Ahli concluded the signing of Brazilian striker Fabio Junior on a free transfer from Portugal's Naval. Reports say the deal cost Ahli LE5.5 million. The 28-year-old striker replaced Liberian forward Francis Doe, who was released by Ahli last month after two unimpressive years with the club. Junior is expected to face tough competition in Jose's star-studded frontline, which includes Egyptian national team trio Emad Meteb, Geddo and Hamdi, in addition to Mauritanian ace Dominique da Silva as well as Mohamed Fadl. Elsewhere, Ismaili produced a total refurbishment, from coach to chairman. Ismaili announced that Hossam Hassan will lead the team next season, succeeding Emad Suleiman. Hassan's appointment comes right after Yehia El-Koumi was re-installed as club chairman, following the resignation of Nasr Aboul-Hassan last month. Hassan failed to renew his contract with Zamalek earlier this summer after the Cairo club appointed former Egypt manager Hassan Shehata as their new head coach. The Egypt legend will be accompanied by his twin brother Ibrahim as football director of Ismaili as well as Tarek Suleiman, who was his assistant in Zamalek. Hassan was delighted with the new position, hoping to make an instant impact with the coastal club. "It has always been a dream of mine to represent Ismaili. I love this club on a personal level," Hassan said. "Ismaili have a lot of decent players and my objective is to help the club win trophies again." Ismaili were boosted by the news that star midfielder Hosni Abd-Rabou agreed to sign a new contract with the club following months of uncertainty. Nevertheless, the delay in paying Abd- Rabou's salary may cause renewed friction before the beginning of the season. The transfer of Egypt skipper and Ahli's former midfielder Ahmed Hassan was Zamalek's major signing this summer, followed by Hussein Hamdi and Hani Said from Misr Lilmakassah. The arrival of the ex-Egypt coach Shehata to the white castle had a huge impact on Zamalek's fans who have not seen their club win the league title since 2004. Egypt captain Hassan joined league runners-up Zamalek on a free transfer from Ahli and signed a two-year contract worth LE6 million. Hassan, 36, ended a three-year stint with Ahli after the club decided not to offer him an extension upon the instructions of manager Jose. Jose insisted on ditching the former Anderlecht ace in spite of the eagerness of Ahli supporters to have him on board for another season. Hassan thus becomes a rare breed of player who has managed to play for Egypt's top trio Ismaili, Ahli and Zamalek. His move to Zamalek was expected following the appointment of Shehata last month, knowing that the former Egypt coach used to rely heavily on the services of Hassan during his helm. Zamalek also re-signed defender Hani Said on loan from Misr Lilmakassah after leaving the club only a month ago as well as striker Hussein Hamdi from the same club. The deal also involved the transfer of Zamalek's midfielder Ashour El Adham in the opposite direction. Egypt international defender Said left Zamalek last month after the expiration of his contract, only for new coach Shehata to request re-signing him. The acquisitions cost Zamalek LE5 million for both players in addition to El-Adham. However, the deal fell through after El-Adham rejected the move to Misr Lilmakassah and opted to join Gouna. Hence, Zamalek offloaded defender Amr El-Safti and midfielder El-Adham to Gouna after the two players paid a total of LE1.1 million to be released. It is believed that El-Adham gave up his contract dues of around LE600,000 to join the Hurghada club after rejecting a move to Misr Lilmakassah. Similarly, El-Safti, who was first choice centre half under coach Hassan, along with Mahmoud Fathallah, gave up LE500,000 to seal the move. Ironically, Zamalek decided to sign midfielder Hani Said from Misri for LE3.1 million. Said joined Zamalek from Haras Al-Hedoud two seasons ago but opted to move to Misri instead. Zamalek also grabbed 20-year-old Ghanaian centre half Karimu Al Hassan on a free transfer from Hearts of Oak, penning a five-year deal. After accepting an offer from Al-Gaish for Ivorian striker Abou Kone, Zamalek are likely to ditch foreign duo Mohamed Aoudia and Emad Mohamed. Zamalek announced the signing of playmaker Said Mohamed 'Otta' from fourth division Cascada. Zamalek said on their official website that the 25-year-old signed a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Egypt striker Amr Zaki decided to stay with Zamalek and turned down a move to Europe after meeting coach Shehata. Earlier, Zamalek accepted a ê1 million offer from Turkey's Sivasspor after Shehata approved the move, only for the striker to decide he wants to stay in Cairo. Zaki played a few games last season under the previous coach Hassan but numerous injury problems, mostly related to a troublesome knee, limited his playing time. The Egypt Football Association (EFA) announced that the 2011-2012 league season is scheduled to start on 14 October, only one week after the end of the 2010-2011 Egyptian Cup which is due to resume the first week of September. Cup action came to a screeching halt following the start of the 25 January Revolution. In July, the EFA decided that no teams will be relegated following the 2010-11 season. Hence, the EFA expanded the elite league from 16 teams to 20. The revolution that bedevilled the country earlier this year forced the league to be suspended for close to three months. The EFA's directive was based on "exceptional circumstances" the clubs had to grapple with during the upheaval. The new format was drawn up after an official pardon was issued for the bottom three teams at the end of last season who now automatically escape demotion -- Ittihad, Smouha and Arab Contractors. According to the EFA statement, a three-team mini league comprising the runners-up in each of the three sections of the second-tier leagues will determine the fourth team to gain promotion to the first division. So far, Spinning Mehalla, Beni Suef Telephones and Dakhlia are the three newly promoted sides.
