CAIRO - Al-Ahly defender Wael Gomaa expressed sadness when his team lost the 16th round of the Egypt Cup against Enppi 0-1, pointing out that the coming period would be good for the team; it would take a badly needed rest ahead of the new season. "Although we are sad about having to leave the Egyptian Cup, it will enable us to have a rest before the Egyptian Premier League season. We are really quite exhausted," Wael Gomaa said. The international defender explained that Al-Ahly (The Red Devils) was the only team in the League that didn't have a rest for almost 14 months. "I hoped the team would reach the Cup final and grab the title to please the fans.” Egypt's football experts have blamed Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose de Silva for his team losing 1-0 in their Cup round against Enppi. This result means that the Red Devils have kissed a second contest goodbye in less than a week, following their African Champions League exit. "Jose must be punished for Ahly being knocked out of two important championships in less than seven days," said Mohsen Saleh, a football expert. "Jose takes all the blame for what has happened, while the administration does their best to meet all the Portuguese coach's requests for new players.” Gomaa meanwhile rejected the criticism. “I don't accept these fierce attacks on Jose. He led the team to 21 titles and deserves our support,” Gomaa added. Al-Ahly crashed out of the Egypt Cup, courtesy of an own-goal from defender Rami Rabiea. Enppi will now face Police Union, who edged Petrojet 2-1. "I am sure that having a rest will help us prepare for the Premier League and enable us to keep the title for the eight consecutive year. We will not judge Jose now," the veteran defender added. Many soccer experts blamed Jose for the formation and the result that led to Al-Ahly's exit from the Egyptian Cup. "The coach should certainly take the blame 100 per cent, because he chose the wrong players and made the wrong changes during the game," soccer expert Hassan el-Mestikawi said. "I urge the Red Devils fans to support the team and coach in the coming period, because we really need them," the international defender said. According to the media, the 64-year old coach has apologised to the team's fans for the early exit, admitting that his team played a very bad game and deserved to lose. Yesterday the Red Devils' coaching staff started preparations for the Egyptian Premier League, which will commence on October 14. Sayyed Abdel Hafiz, the team's football manager, expressed his sadness about losing 1-0 in their Egypt Cup round against Enppi. The coaching staff decided to give ten players a rest until the beginning of October; Ahmed Adel Abdel Monein, Wael Gomaa, Sayyed Moa'wad, Ahmed Fathi, Mohamed Shawqi, Hossam Ghali, Hossam Ashour, Mohamed Naggi 'Geddo', Mohamed Abou-Treika and Emad Me'teab. Abdel Hafiz explained that the African exit had a negative impact on the players' performance in the Egyptian Cup tie.
