After capturing the African Champions League title, Ahli resume what they hope will be more winning ways in the league with a heavyweight clash against arch-rivals Zamalek, Ahmed Morsy reports Despite this being the 12th week of the domestic league, African champions Ahli have played only seven games because of African championship commitments. The delays apparently paid off after Ahli won their sixth African Champions League trophy on Sunday. But Ahli will have to come down to earth rapidly before facing their biggest city rivals, Zamalek, on Saturday. It is the first derby clash of this season. Zamalek will hold a training camp in the Olympic Village in Ismailia which should have started yesterday as part of the team's preparations. Zamalek's new football director Ahmed Refaat said in a statement on the club's official website that there were no plans to pardon any suspended player after the club said it would apply a strict disciplinary policy. Mohamed Aboul-Ela, Gamal Hamza and Osama Hassan trained away from the first team as punishment after a lacklustre goalless draw against the Arab Contractors. In addition, Tunisian defender Wissem Abdi and Brazilian full-back Ricardo were put on the club's transfer list after the disappointing 0-0 showing against the Contractors. Refaat added that Amr El-Safti will be available to play against Ahli, denying that the defender's caution against Petrojet was his second. In addition to the local derby, Ahli have four other matches in hand against Tersana, Ismaili, Police Union and Spinning Mehalla. Ahli will play against Police Union on Wednesday. After that, between 29 and 30 November, Ahli are scheduled to meet Enppi, Spinning Mehalla will play Police Union, Al-Gaish will clash with Misri and Ismaili will face Zamalek. Haras Al-Hedoud will host Olympic, Egypt Telecom will host Petrojet, Tersana will meet the Arab Contractors, and Ittihad will host Petroleum Assiout in Alexandria. Zamalek had a hard-fought 0-0 draw against top seeded Petrojet who extended Zamalek's winless run after holding them to a goalless draw in Suez on Friday. Zamalek were lucky not to concede as Petrojet wasted several clear-cut chances on either side of the interval. The draw leaves Zamalek in fourth place with 18 points, seven behind surprise leaders Petrojet, who are enjoying a great run of form. "But a draw was not a satisfying result," Petrojet coach Mokhtar Mokhtar said. "We are a team that aim to retain our league leadership, so it was disappointing to lose two points tonight." "Zamalek keeper Abdel-Wahed El-Sayed was the man of the match after blocking numerous scoring chances," Mokhtar added. The former Ahli player was full of praise for his players, who outplayed Zamalek in every aspect of the game. "They did their best. That's why my substitutions were late because everyone on the pitch was brilliant." In other matches, Enppi thrashed Olympic 5-1 in Alexandria to climb to second place in the league table with 23 points, two behind leaders Petrojet. Ismaili had a hard-fought 3-2 win against Ittihad in Ismailia, scoring three goals in the last half-hour to beat Ittihad 3-2. Misri paid tribute to their chairman Sayed Metwali, who died last week, with a late 2-1 victory over Police Union. Elsewhere, the Arab Contractors beat Egypt Telecom 2-1 and Al-Gaish drew 2-2 with Haras Al-Hedoud, while Assiout Petroleum snatched three points after beating Spinning Mehalla 2-1 in Assiout.
