The EFA's decision to call off the league season prompted a wave of criticism among several club managers as many questioned the purpose of the alternative tournament, with the exception of Zamalek. The Egyptian Premier League 2011-2012 season has been officially called off as a friendly competition is set to take place in the aftermath of the Port-Said disaster that claimed the lives of more than 77 fans. One of the staunch critics of the decision was Harras Hodoud manager Tarek Al-Ashri whose team had been enjoying their best run ever, topping the league table for nearly seven weeks. Biggest losers! “What am I going to say to my players? And what difference would it make if the league was resumed rather than playing a friendly tournament?” Al-Ashri told FilGoal.com. “How would such a competition motivate us? My team have been topping the league table and now we are the biggest losers. “It is useless taking part in it as it does not qualify any team for a continental competition. “Since it is a friendly tournament, we could have continued our friendly games, but the EFA has double standards and clubs eventually pay. “Instead of making such a decision, they should have found a genuine solution to the Port-Said massacre.” Relegation Gaish boss Farouk Gaafar, whose side were 12th in the league standings prior to its suspension, echoed Al-Ashri's sentiments charging the FA of favoritism. “The FA's decision to cancel the league makes no sense! It is illogical to call off a competition for the sake of four or five clubs struggling with relegation,” Gaafar said.
Al-Ashri and Gaafar dismayed by league cancellation “The tournament will not compensate for the cancelled league; they should have found a way to recommence it. “The decision would harm a big sector that relies on the league for a living in the football field.” Motive Another head coach to condemn the decision was MCDR coach Tarek Yehia who said he would now be seriously contemplating managing Sudan's national team amid the absence of competitive activity. “I can't figure out the motive that an alternative competition would create and whether it would be staged over two legs or not; we want to vie for a genuine title and not a friendly one,” Yehia told Modern Sport TV. “I just wished football action would have resumed in a competitive form, either restarting the league or directly kicking off the Egypt Cup. “This will make me seriously ponder an offer from Sudan.” Suitable An opinion to break the rule came from Zamalek, with assistant coach Osama Nabih backing the idea of a friendly tournament to aid the Whites' preparation for the Champions League campaign. “I think the friendly tournament is a suitable option for all parties as it would reduce all potential losses had no alternative been proposed to make up for the cancelled league,” Nabih said. “Technically, we will benefit much as it is a good preparation for our Champions League competition.” In the same manner, Zamalek chairman Mamdouh Abbas said that he ‘supports the decision amid the hard times Egypt is enduring'.
