CAIRO - The 12th week of the 2011-2012 Egypt Premier League kicks off Tuesday with two clashes, to be followed Wednesday by another two. Zamalek and El-Dakhlia are ready for their clashes against Petrojet and Police Union Tuesday, while Haras el-Hodoud and Enppi are preparing to take on El-Talefounat and Smouha Wednesday The biggie of the four fixtures is the Petrojet-Zamalek clash in Suez Stadium. "We are well prepared," Ismail Youssef, Zamalek's assistant coach, stressed after Monday's training session, explaining that Taha Besri, Petrojet coach, won't be doing the White Knights any favours. Youssef pointed out that the physical fitness of the players will be the crucial factor. "We'll go playing with the same line-up we used in the Masry and El-Talefounat games,” he explained. Youssef was delighted by his team's 2-1 win over El-Masry last week in a game that was postponed from the eighth week of the League, promising that the White Knights can only get better. "The match against Masry was really difficult; therefore, I want to thank all the players for their efforts. But if they had been a little less reckless and rash, they would have scored more goals. In any case, this win will give the team a boost," he explained. Zamalek defeated El-Masry thanks to goals from Ahmed Tewfiq and Shikaballah, while El-Masry's only goal came through Abdullah Siecia. Zamalek have announced that the coaching staff have accepted the apology from team striker Amr Zaki, who failed to turn up at the club for training for several weeks, due to a dispute over unpaid wages with the club's former board. "Coach Hassan Shehata accepted Amr Zaki's apology during a meeting, but the final decision is in the hands of the club's current board, headed by Mamdouh Abbas," Youssef said, pointing out that Zaki's apology is a good step towards repairing his damaged relations with the club. Meanwhile, the 28-year-old forward expressed his happiness after the meeting held with the coaching staff, stressing that he has no problem with Zamalek's technical coach Hassan Shehata, whom he considers to be a father figure. "I consider Zaki to be my son, but his six weeks' absence will surely have a negative effect on his performance," Shehata explained, adding that he is happy with his team's 2-1 victory over El-Masry, pointing out that experience made all the difference. "El-Masry were very organised, but our players' skill and experience swung it," the ex-Egypt technical coach explained, while he also praised the opponent's coaching staff under Talaat Youssef. "This win has given the team a boost, but I still want more from the players. I am not satisfied with their performance, as they didn't follow the coaching staff's instructions." Youssef admitted that the White Knights, who are now in fourth place in the League with 19 points from eight games, missed the enthusiasm of the fans. Although Petrojet will be playing the game without talented strikers Moustafa Moharam and Mohamed Kofi due to injury and suspension, the coaching staff headed by Taha Besri have urged the players to put on a good show and do their best to snatch all three points against the White Knights. Petrojet are in 14th place with nine points. "You must concentrate and control the midfield zone," Besri told his players after the last training session. Police Union, meanwhile, have finished their preparations for their game against El-Dakhlia today. Helmi Toulan, the Police Union coach, urged his players to concentrate on the game and not be tempted by offers from other clubs during the winter transfer window. "I need every player if we want to challenge Al-Ahly and Zamalek for the title," said Toulan, referring to reports that Zamalek have made an offer to Police Union right-winger Reda el-Azab. Police Union are now in third place in the Egyptian Premier League with 21 points from ten games. The Haras el-Hodoud medical staff said yesterday that team defender Fadi Nagaah will not be able to participate in the game against El-Talefounat Wednesday in Alexandria, due to injury, although striker Ahmed Abdel-Ghani might be match-fit. Ashraf Qassem are coaching El-Talefounat in the wake of the resignation of Hamza el-Gaml. El-Talefounat are now in 10th place with 12 points from ten games.
The Egyptian Premier League 12th week fixtures: • January 3: 4:45pm Petrojet v Zamalek 7:15pm El-Dakhlia v Police Union • January 4: 4:45pm El-Hedoud v El-Talefounat 7:15pm Enppi v Smouha
