It is the day one of the 2011-2012 Egyptian Premier League season, with six games raising the curtain on an uncharacteristic campaign. For the first time in the history of the 63-year-old competition, there will be 19 teams in the top flight this term. Another unusual factor is the late timing of mid-October, forced by a three-month break that followed Egypt's January 25 Revolution midway through last season. The opening day will also witness a couple of abnormal fixtures where the home team will be deprived of their fans, as Ahli take on Harras Hodoud in Alexandria and Ismaili host Petrojet behind closed doors in Ismailia. Ahli and Ismaili are serving stadium bans imposed by the FA following their respective fans' violence during the recently-ended Egypt Cup. Security Security has been a major concern in almost every sports event in Egypt since January; an issue that was embodied in a number of chaotic incidents throughout the year so far. However, FA chief Samir Zaher seemed to have no worries ahead of the new season, following a violence-free Egypt Cup final. “Despite all the difficulties in Egypt's streets, I am very optimistic that there will be no violence in football matches this season,” Zaher said. “The civilized behavior of Zamalek fans in the cup final gives us confidence ahead of the new season. “I hope all clubs would follow in the Zamalek model.” Top match: Ahli vs. Hodoud
Petrojet tackle Ismaili It is arguably the match of the week, in a fixture corresponding to the one that saw Hodoud make their top-flight debut in 2002. Ahli won 1-0 in Alexandria that day, courtesy of a strike from Mohamed Fadl, who was dropped from Manuel Jose's squad for Friday's game. Tarek Al-Ashri's Hodoud will be looking for their first-ever league victory over the 36-time champs, whose last day-one defeat was in 2003 at the hands of Ismaili. Five summer signings are in line to make their league debut for the holders in Ahmed Shedid, Abdullah Al-Saied, Walid Soliman, Fabio Junior and Mohamed Naguib. Debuts The Ismaili-Petrojet game will see two managers making their league debut at either end, with Mahmoud Gaber and Taha Basri - a former Dervishes coach - going face-to-face. Similarly, Helmi Toulan is set for his first league game with Police Union, who visit Cairo rivals Military Production, led by new coach Kamal Etman. Bani Suef Telephones are one of two teams who will be making their top-flight bow, as they face a stern opener at last season's surprise package MCDR. The game also marks the first appearance for Hamza Al-Gamal as Telephones coach, having had two unfruitful spells with Arab Contractors and Smouha last term. The highly-respected Talaat Youssef is another manager who makes his debut for ambitious Port-Said giants Masri, who visit newcomers Ghazl Mahalla in an interesting encounter. Last season's runners-up Zamalek had their opener against Wadi Degla postponed following the latter's team accident.
