Despite a lacklustre performance, defending champions Ahli were satisfied with claiming all three points in their Egyptian domestic league opener, Ahmed Morsy reports The first Egyptian national football league season since the eruption of the 25 January Revolution began in earnest on Friday with six games followed by two more the following day. Because the current league features 19 teams for the first time, the Alexandrian-based club Smouha did not play in the first week. The first day of the league had not a single draw but on Saturday, winning was not everything as the two games ended in ties. Defending champions Ahli, eyeing an eighth consecutive league triumph, successfully launched their title campaign after a 1-0 win over stubborn side Haras Al-Hedoud in Alexandria Stadium on Friday. Ahli's opener, which was supposed to take place in Cairo Stadium, was held in Alexandria instead after Ahli were sanctioned by the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) for crowd violence during their Egypt Cup game against Kima Aswan last month. Nevertheless, Alexandria was to Ahli home away from home given the huge support they enjoyed from their boisterous supporters who follow the club anywhere, any time. For the first time, Ahli coach Manuel Jose featured new signings Abdullah El-Said, Walid Suleiman and Brazilian striker Fabio Junior in the team's starting line-up after being criticised for not making use of them during the recent cup and CAF Champions League exits. In the first half, Ahli dominated the proceedings, however, their strikers squandered more than one scoring opportunity and could not break the deadlock before the break. In the 11th minute, striker Emad Meteb blasted his shot over the bar from inside the area after a pull-back from Junior. Three minutes before the interval, Meteb wasted another golden goal-scoring opportunity when he broke clear for a one-on-one situation with Al-Hedoud goalie Ali Farag but his poor shot was blocked by the advancing keeper. In the second half, Ahli was also superior and pushed to end the resistance of Al-Hedoud and break the deadlock. Consequently, in the 63rd minute, Haras Al-Hedoud's over-reliance on defence eventually cost them. Meteb beat his marker to meet an outstanding cross from left-back Sayed Moawad at the near post to send a powerful header past Farag as wild celebrations broke out in the stadium. Ahli fans lit fireworks which later prompted the EFA to punish the club again. Following the goal, Jose introduced Dominique Da Silva and Mohamed 'Gedo' Nagi replacing Meteb and El-Said to energise his attack. Al-Hedoud, lacking any spark or creativity, tried to mount pressure in the latter stages but failed to seriously threaten Ahli keeper Sherif Ekrami. After their victory, Ahli, 36-time Egyptian league winners, were satisfied despite the uninspiring performance. "An opening victory is always important," football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz told Ahli's satellite channel after the game. "Opening matches are always difficult, which is why the display was not up to expectations. It was important to get all three points before facing Petrojet in the second game. But, hopefully, the performance will improve in the coming period." Later, Ahli were fined LE40,000 by the FA's competition committee for their supporters' behaviour during the league opener after Meteb's goal had them firing off several firecrackers in celebration. Ahli's rabid fans, the Ultras Ahlawi, sent a strongly worded message by unfurling a rather aggressive banner that read: 'You will not teach us how to support our team.' "This message is primarily directed at the Egyptian Football Association," Ultras Ahlawi said on their Facebook page, which includes 233,000 users. "It is also directed at anyone who believes he can turn football stadiums into prisons under his control. We own the stadiums, we own the stands." The EFA, which said more than once it would clamp down on any disorder in the new season, is likely to punish Ahli in the future for any excessive use of fireworks. According to the new regulations, a club whose fans use fireworks will be fined, initially, LE20,000. A repeat of that violation will result in a home-match ban. "They should have explained the rules before the beginning of the season," Abdel-Hafiz commented on Sunday evening on the new fines. "The association doesn't take into consideration the big clubs in the competition, like Ahli and Zamalek." "This is ridiculous," Abdel-Hafiz added. "Rival fans can attend our matches, sit in our stands and set off fireworks in order to get us punished. This is unfair. If this is the case, citizens should specify their favourite club on their national ID cards." Zamalek were also punished for their supporters' rowdiness during the Egypt Cup final against Enppi. The FA announced on Sunday that Zamalek will be required to play a home game at a neutral venue after supporters threw fireworks and bottles during their side's loss to Enppi. It was the second home match ban for Zamalek following their clash with Haras Al-Hedoud in the cup semi-final. The Cairo giants were also hit with a LE15,000 fine for not sending anyone to attend the post- match press conference. As a result, Zamalek lodged a formal complaint with the association against the new penalties. "Securing the stands is not our responsibility," said club officials. "It's the responsibility of the Interior Ministry." "The club doesn't have any authority to stop crowds and search spectators for fireworks, so the penalties aren't reasonable," said a statement on the team's official website. The league opener between Zamalek and Wadi Degla was postponed in the wake of a horrific team bus accident which killed a Wadi Degla assistant coach and severely injured the team's Belgian manager. Elsewhere, Misri crushed Mehalla 3-0 away from home in a bad-tempered match on Friday marred towards the end after disgruntled home fans hurled stones onto the pitch. As a result Mehalla will play a home game behind closed doors in addition to paying a LE15,000 fine for hooliganism. Al-Gaish enjoyed a 2-1 victory over the Arab Contractors in Military Stadium while Police Union defeated Military Production 2-1 on the same day. Misr Lilmakassah blanked league newcomers Beni Suef Telephones 3-0 and Petrojet lost 3-1 to Ismaili in Ismailia, also on Friday. On Saturday, Enppi and Al-Gouna played to a 3- 3 draw and Ittihad drew 1-1 with newly promoted Dakhliya.
