CAIRO - The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has decided to postpone the implementation of a professional Premier League in Egypt till next season. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently requested the EFA to turn the Egyptian League professional, starting from the 2012-1013 season. The CAF stressed that all the Egyptian clubs that play in African competitions must have a professional certificate, as they play in professional leagues; if not, they will not participate in the African competitions. There are many clubs in the Egyptian Premier League that need to be integrated in order to represent only one institution, such as Enppi and Petrojet; Haras el-Hodoud, El-Geish and Military Production; and Police Union and newly promoted el-Dakhlia. The Oil Ministry will be asked to choose from Enppi or Petrojet.The same will be happen to the military clubs, as the Army will have to choose one from Haras el-Hodoud, Military Production and El-Geish, while the Police will have to choose between Police Union and el-Dakhlia. Haras el-Hodoud, and Enppi, two of Egypt's oldest clubs, will be integrated and merged. Both were promoted to the Premier League at the beginning of the 2002-2003 season and have been competing there ever since. El-Geish joined them later on, being promoted for the first time to the top flight in 2004-2005, followed by Petrojet, promoted for the first time to the Premier League in 2006-2007. The Police Union were promoted in 2008-2009 season and then Military Production in 2009-2010. El-Dakhlia, participating for the first time in its history to the Premier League this season, having just been promoted, might just play one season with the big clubs, as they could be integrated or relegated to the Second Division. "We don't have to make the Premier League professional this season," says Samir Zaher, the EFA Chairman, denying that the CAF will penalise Egypt if the EFA doesn't do so. "Most of the African countries taking part in the CAF championships have yet to turn professional.” Zaher explains that there have recently been serious discussions between the EFA members to set a date for this, but the majority agree on waiting before taking a decision that might represent a setback for Egyptian soccer. Fathi Nosier, the EFA's ex-technical manager, says that there are ten clubs to which the CAF conditions apply. The CAF conditions for a club to participate in a professional league and CAF tournaments are: the club must have a stadium of its own to play games in at any time, with a hospital nearby, while the club must own an investing company. Nosier adds that the clubs that can participate in the professional league are Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaili, El-Masry, Al-Ittihad of Alexandria, Enppi, Wady Degla, Smouha, El-Gouna and Misr Elmaqasah (MCSD). "The police and military clubs can't participate in the professional league; nor can Petrojet, Military Production, Arab Contractors, El-Mahallah and El-Telefounat," he explains. As for these clubs that can't participate in the professional league, EFA will create a first-class league for them until they are able to meet the required criteria. Meanwhile, Ahly, Wady Degla, Smouha, El-Gouna and MCSD have been ignoring hints from the EFA to postpone the creation of a professional league till next season, as they have already held a meeting to discuss the matter and take a decision. Nosier says that FIFA regulations allow the professional league in any country to start with at least eight clubs. "Egypt already has ten clubs that meet the necessary criteria," he stresses. Soccer experts, meanwhile, agree that there are many obstacles to starting the professional league next season. Hani Abu Reida, the ex-EFA Vice-Chairman, is doubtful that EFA can begin the professional league starting in the 2012-2013 season, because of the financial difficulties that facing many Egyptian clubs. "The EFA has yet to prepare a financial evaluation for Egyptian clubs wanting to participate in the professional league," he told Egypt's official Middle East News Agency (MENA). Taha Ismaili, a soccer expert, told MENA that there are many criteria for acceptance into the professional league and few Egyptian clubs meet these criteria. "But clubs like Petrojet, Ahly, Zamalek and El-Masry of Port Said could apply for the professional league," said Ismaili, pointing out that any delay in establishing the professional league next season will have a bad effect on the Egyptian clubs participating in the African competitions. "Such a delay would prevent the country's top clubs like Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaili from taking part in the CAF tournaments next season," he added, explaining that countries like the United Arab of Emirates and Qatar already have professional leagues. Moustafa Younis, an ex-Ahly player, says that the financial crisis facing most Egyptian clubs is the big obstacle. "However, there will be many advantages for the clubs if EFA introduces this system," he adds. Gamal el-Ghandour, an expert referee, argues that what is needed now is a new EFA council to prepare Egyptian football for a professional league. "Such a league requires new thinking and new blood," he stresses. The four-year term in office of the current EFA board will end in November. Helmi Toulan, the Police Union technical coach, says that it will be difficult for clubs like his, El-Geish and the military clubs to meet the criteria for this new system. "There must be a nationwide sporting revolution," says Toulan, pointing out that the professional system must apply to everyone in football the clubs' boards, players and coaches. “It will be difficult to apply this system by next season, but having a professional league will be benefit football in the long run.”
