Youth vitality could give Zamalek something extra as they bid to end the Cairo derby jinx when they face arch-rivals Ahli on Thursday. The White Knights defeated Ahli just once in their last nine games when the Red Devils fielded a second-string line up in 2007. This time, Zamalek fans hope the team's handful of youth players could atone for their predecessors' repeated failures against arch-rivals Ahli. "We fully trust our young players," Zamalek assistant coach Sami Al-Sheshini told FilGoal.com. "The players are determined to beat Ahli and maintain their fine run of results. "I can't see why we can't defeat Ahli. I believe our chances of winning the game are equal to those of our opponents." The likes of Hazem Emam, Ahmed Al-Merghani, Sabri Rahil and Alaa Ali proved their worth after being promoted to the senior team to become integral members of Zamalek squad. With nothing to play for, Zamalek youngsters will be under no pressure to deliver. "We will keep faith with those players even if they lost against Ahli. We are building a team for the future," Al-Sheshini added. The White Knights might also eye a win to dent Ahli's hopes of wrapping up a fifth consecutive Egyptian Premier League title.
Ismaili, Ahli's fierce foes and Zamalek's traditional friends, are on top of the table with 54 points, two ahead of the Red Devils who have two games in hand. History of Youth Depending on new blood in Cairo derbies is not a new trend. It's a tried and tested decision that was previously taken by both Zamalek and Ahli either optionally or due to existing circumstances. The most famous incident was in 1985, when Ahli's late president Saleh Selim decided to suspend eight first team players from facing Zamalek in the Egyptian Cup quarter-final. Household names like Mahmoud Al-Khatib, Mostafa Abdou and Ikrami were banned after they took coach Mahmoud Al-Gohari's side in the latter's conflict with Selim. The game witnessed the introduction of unknown players at the time like Hossam Hassan, Tarek Khalil and Ahmed Shobeir. The Red Devils' youngsters stunned the whole nation by beating a star studded and fully experienced Zamalek 3-2 just few months after the White Knights won the African Cup. Al-Gohari's Turn In the 1993-94 season, Al-Gohari was appointed as Zamalek coach after a dismal start to the club's campaign, which included a 3-0 loss to Ahli. The legendary coach started his reign by promoting four youngsters to the Zamalek first team including Osama Nabih, Metemed Gamal, Mohamed Sabri and Medhat Abdul-Hadi. Al-Gohari decided to depend on the quartet against Ahli in the second term, and the outcome was a well-deserved 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Sabri and Emmanuel Amunike.
