Title holders Ahli are unlikely to enjoy a smooth ride this season after slipping up once again against Arab Contractors, who had two players dismissed in the game. Despite playing against nine men for around 27 minutes, Ahli failed to convert their chances as the match ended goalless. The result did not help the Cairo giants make up for their surprising 2-0 defeat to Masri a week earlier. Unlike the past few years, Ahli will apparently face a fierce challenge to fulfill their aim of winning a fifth successive Egyptian League title. The Red Devils collected just four points in their first three matches. “Losing points gives hopes to our competitors that they can mount a serious title challenge,” Ahli assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri admitted. “It is no good to stutter in the early stages of the season, but I'm sure the players can bounce back quickly.” Despite having a star-studded squad after several high-profile acquisitions in the close season, Ahli haven't really impressed so far. Ahli coach Manuel Jose was criticized by local media for barely using the new arrivals even though his regular starters have not been performing so well. “Jose should be more courageous. The likes of Hani Al-Egeizi, Hussein Yasser, Ahmed Farag and Hussein Ali deserve to have a fair chance to prove their worth,” Al-Ahram sports critic Mahmoud Sabri said. Midfielder Ali, who joined the Egyptian champions from Petrojet after an infamous transfer wrangle that involved Ahli's arch-rivals Zamalek, is yet to make a single competitive appearance. Other new faces such as attacking duo Farag and Al-Egeizi as well as Qatari winger Yasser made brief appearances with Ahli. Jose is seemingly deploying the old guard to stabilize his line-up for the CAF Champions League campaign. He doesn't want to play with two different teams in the league and Africa's elite competition. Ahli couldn't use all their new players in the Champions League because every team submit their squad list when the preliminary rounds begin in February. By that time, Ahli's new players were yet to arrive as the transfer window in Egypt opens in May. Agogo's League Debut
Agogo scored Zamalek's winner Junior Agogo responded to the criticism of his nightlife in the form of a match-winning performance against Masri. The Ghanaian striker, who was making his league debut with Zamalek, restored his side's lead over Masri seven minutes after the restart to help the White Knights secure a 2-1 victory. He scuffed a loose ball into the Masri box and dinked past the advancing keeper to open his Zamalek account. “I'm happy for myself and for my teammates that we were able to win,” Agogo told Al-Hayat channel after the game The former Nottingham Forest man was criticized by local press for having a nightlife that contradicts eastern traditions. Egyptian daily Al-Gomhuria went as far as questioning his entire career. “He played for 13 clubs in nine years and was arrested in England,” Tarek Al-Adwar wrote. However, there were still others who believed Agogo is free to do what he wants as long as he performs well with Zamalek. “I don't know why he is being attacked. People should not be concerned with his private life,” popular presenter Ahmed Shobeir, who also holds the position of the Egyptian FA vice-president, said. Petrojet Occupy Summit Petrojet maintained their 100% start to their Egyptian League campaign to be the sole leaders of the competition. The petroleum club, who were contenders for the title until the final stages of last season but ended sluggishly to finish fifth, claimed a deserved 3-1 victory over newcomers Olympic, their third successive win this season. However, Petrojet coach Mokhtar Mokhtar doesn't rest on his laurels. He believes that some improvements must take place sooner rather than later. “The forwards were too nervous to convert all the chances they had against Olympic,” he told FilGoal.com after the game. "We should find a solution for this problem to avoid last season's slip." Petrojet next face a tricky test to Cairo, where they will face champions Ahli. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to maintain their bright start.
