Ahli veterans proved they still have the strength, guile and alacrity needed to compete at the highest level after wrapping up a fifth consecutive Egyptian Premier League title. Things were not as smooth as they used to be for Ahli during the past few years but the 34-time Egyptian champions remained the most dominant force in the elite competition. A 1-0 victory over fierce rivals Ismaili in the playoff helped Ahli quell doubts over the ability of their ageing players to keep outshining challengers. "Those players are still the best in Egypt. None of our competitors have a squad that resembles ours," Ahli coach Manuel Jose, who will leave the club to take over at Angola, said recently. The likes of Mohamed Abou-Treika, Mohamed Barakat, Shadi Mohamed and Wael Gomaa - the players who formed the backbone of Ahli's most successful generation - have been the subject of fierce criticism from local media. Many pundits believed those experienced players ran out of fuel and became too sluggish to keep pace with younger and fresher footballers. Their opinion might have been justified in some games, but Ahli players managed to make the most of their experience in crucial contests. Last-gasp victories over Ghazl Mahalla, Arab Contractors and Gaish demonstrated that notion. "Our experience made the difference in vital games," Ahli's ecstatic playmaker Mohamed Abou-Treika said following his side's win over Ismaili. Angolan Combination
Every team has points of strengths but Ahli's were the most prominent of all. Flavio's header and Gilberto's pinpoint crosses broke down the toughest of defenses. The Angolan duo combined on numerous occasions this season to score many vital goals. Flavio scored most of his 12 league goals through his headers following inviting crosses from compatriot Gilberto. The league-winning goal against Ismaili was a result of a similar move. "Everyone know that Flavio's aerial prowess is dangerous for opponents, so how did you fail to deal with that?" a journalist asked Ismaili assistant coach Ahmed Al-Agouz during the post-match conference. Central midfielders Hossam Ashour, Ahmed Hassan, Moataz Eno and Ahmed Fathi were instrumental in keeping oppositions at bay and carving out goalscoring opportunities. Fathi in particular was impressive as his versatility gave Ahli plenty of options. He played as a central defender, right back, defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder, putting in convincing displays in all these positions. Ahli's defensive trio Wael Gomaa, Ahmed Al-Sayed and Shadi Mohamed were not at their best after committing costly errors earlier in the season but showed composure in the final rounds to make amends. Ismaili barely created clear-cut chances in Sunday's decider. Ahli will be looking to keep hold of their prized assets, the so-called ageing players, to remain a step ahead of their competitors during next season.
