CAIRO - Former Al-Ahly coach Hossam el-Badri has denied that the Red Devils are floundering and will take time to get back on their feet, stressing that the near future will witness a real comeback under their coach, Manuel Jose. "I think Ahly will be perform strongly this season," el-Badri, who coaches Sudanese outfit Al-Merreikh, told Modern Koora TV channel, adding that the team's new players would make all the difference. Ahly have made seven new signings this season, including el-Sayyed Hamdi, Brazilian Fabio Junior, defender Mohamed Naguib, Walid Soliman, Ahmed Shedid Qinawi and Ismaili playmaker Abdullah el-Saeed. El-Badri said that the new players haven't yet had time to show off their talents and impress the fans. "Jose still needs time, as the new faces are still in the process of settling in with the old stagers,” he explained. Egypt's soccer experts blamed Ahly coach Manuel Jose Da Silva for his team losing 1-0 in their Egypt Cup round of 16 tie against Enppi. Just a few days prior to that, the team bowed out of the African Champions League (ACL), drawing at home to Esperance of Tunisia. As a result, the 64-year-old Portuguese coach apologised to the team's fans. Al-Ahly defender Wael Gomaa recently said that the near future would be good for the team, who sorely need a rest ahead of the new season. "Although we are sad about being out of the Egypt Cup and ACL, this will enable us to have a rest before the Egyptian Premier League season. We are really quite exhausted," Gomaa said. El-Badri explained that Ahly are the only team in the League who haven't had a rest for almost 14 months.
