CAIRO - Zamalek, Military Production and El-Mahallah have finished their preparations for their crucial matches against El-Gouna, Al-Ahly and Wady Degla respectively in the 13th week of the Egyptian Premier League Wednesday. Al-Ahly (The Red Devils) held a training session Monday in readiness for the Military Production clash. Prior to the session, coach Manuel José da Silva told the players that it's vital for them to grab all three points. The training witnessed the absence of striker Emad Meteab and midfielder Shehab el-Deen Ahmed due to injury. Ahly are in second place on 26 points; if they win, they'll go top, upstaging current leaders Haras el-Hedoud, who have 28 points. Military Production are in the 15th place with eight points. Ahly football director Sayyed Abdel-Hafez has said that players are concentrating hard on the Military Production game, which they are determined to win. "The game is important for us," stressed Abdel-Hafez, explaining that defender Sherif Abdel-Fadil and Senegalese striker Dominique Da Silva are ready, but it's up to coach José whether to play them or not. Mohamed Helmi, who took the helm of the Military Production coaching staff after Kamal Etman resigned on Sunday, says that his side are hoping to put on well against Ahly. "It's our bad luck to start our mission with the Military Production against a big team like Ahly," he explained. Tired Zamalek eyeing win Zamalek have finished their preparations for their clash with El-Gouna Wednesday. In training, the players and the coaching staff have been trying to remedy the mistakes made in recent matches. The White Knights defeated Wady Degla 1-0 in a match postponed from the first week of the league, thanks to a goal from substitute Ahmed Gaafar in the 62nd minute, but the way the team played in that match and the previous one against Petrojet has raised a lot of question marks. Zamalek are now in fourth place with 23 points, while El-Gouna lie in eighth with 16 points. Assistant Zamalek coach Ismail Youssef was delighted by their beating Degla. "It was a difficult match as the players were exhausted, because of all the stress and pressure of recent matches," Youssef said after the game. "Degla played well, but our skill and experience gave us the edge," he added, indicating that the White Knights are only going to get better in the near future. Youssef stressed that the team played better in the second half, after the changes made by the coaching staff. "The coaching staff, led by Hassan Shehata, have been making the training sessions less intensive, as the players are so tired. "The team still need time to impress the fans and the coaching staff. Every game is a must-win, as the White Knights are a big team and the fans aren't happy if we draw or lose. "The Gouna match won't be easy, as they have many talented players and a clever coach. They are also well organised, but our players' skill and experience are what count," Youssef, the ex-Gouna coach, explained, while also praising the opponents' coaching staff under Anwar Salama. Zamalek striker Ahmed Gaafar, whose goal sunk Degla, was delighted with the win and his performance. El-Gouna general coach Amin Orabi said that the Zamalek game will be difficult, pointing out that the White Knights really want to win. Orabi explained that Salama met with the players after they were defeated by El-Masry of Port Said last week, stressing to them that they have what it takes to play well against the White Knights. "Zamalek are an open book for us; all we need is a bit of luck," Orabi said ahead of the match. Gouna enter the game without any injuries, with the coaching staffs relying heavily on strikers Pupa Manswaa and Ahmed Hassan 'Drogba', beside the midfielders Ahmed Omraan, Nour el-Sayyed and Ashour el-Adham to halt the Zamalek machine and pressure their defence. Wady Degla ready for Mahallah Wady Degla coach Walter Meeuws was disappointed after Zamalek beat them last Saturday, stressing that his side deserved at least a point from the game. "We played well against Zamalek and we missed three good chances in the first-half," Meeuws said after the game. The 61-year-old tactician explained that big teams such as Zamalek can carve a win out of any game. "We deserved at least a draw, but the experience of the Zamalek players made all the difference," the Belgian coach added. Degla assistant coach Ahmed Hamouda said that his side are hoping for a good result against Mahallah, whose general coach, Khaled Abul Fotouh, is obviously hoping for a good result against Wady Degla! "Degla are a good team with many experienced and talented players, but we are confident that we can win," Abul Fotouh said. Degla are now in 12th with 11 points, while El-Mahallah are in 18th on seven points. El-Mahallah enter the game without key striker Ahmed Magdi, who has been suspended for two games by the Egyptian Football Association. The 13th week Egyptian Premier League fixtures • January 11 4:45pm Mahallah v Wady Degla 4:45pm Military Production v Al-Ahly 7:15pm Zamalek v El-Gouna
