Africa's Greatest Football Clubs: Zamalek


By Joburg Post

When you talk of a dominant force in Egyptian football, one immediately thinks of Al Ahly. Indeed one of the greatest clubs on the African continent, associated with success and positive results. The high compliments the clubs receives are clearly deserved, if you look at their achievements in recent years. However, staunch believers of Zamalek SC will completely disagree if you say the Cairo based giants deserve the salutation “Africa’s Club of the Century”.

The debate on who is better between the two has been going on for years in every corner of the country, restaurants, clubs, and buses. With more CAF titles to their name than any other team in the 20th century, the Zamalek followers have concluded that their beloved team is not only the best club in Egypt but also that the White Knights are unmatched on the continent. Zamalek is considered as only second best behind Al Ahly by the younger generation. However, those who have been following the beautiful game for decades will tell you that the club founded by George Merzbach in January 1911 is just as good if not better than any other gigantic African football institution you will ever find.

Zamalek also has a basketball, athletics, handball, and volleyball teams. Their investment in sports has generated income and put food on the table for many households around world. More than a 100 years after they were first formed, Zamalek remain as one of the rulers of the Egyptian Premier League and African football as a whole. With a remarkable record and rich history to build on, the current generation of players know that they have a heavy duty to fulfil. Zamalek relies mostly on home brewed talent. Players such as Mahmoud Abdel Razek Fadlallah, Abdel Halim Ali and Hossam Hasan are national heroes who have all donned the team colours at some stage in their rewarding careers.

Home games at the Cairo International Stadium are a special, entertaining and out of the ordinary occasions for the club supporters. The White Knights always enjoy supreme backing at their slaughterhouse even in difficult times. After losing the 2016 CAF Champions League first leg match 3-nil away from home against Mamelodi Sundowns, 70,000 still showed up for the second leg at the Borg El Arab Stadium. Unfortunately, they could only register a 1-nil victory over the Pretoria side. The club’s last continental trophy came in 2002 against Raja Casablanca.

The White Knights fans bring banners, posters, dance and sing throughout the game to celebrate their team. The victims of 1974 stampede would definitely be proud of the support shown to their treasured side. United by the motto; “Brotherhood in blood and fans of the free public” the club faithful fans known as the “Ultra White Knights” are among the most passionate and organized group of supporters in the world. The debate on which club is better will surely continue as long as Al Ahly and Zamalek exist. However, the White Knights will take comfort in knowing that no other African side has the outstanding record of five CAF Champions League, 3 CAF Super Cup and a African Cup winners medals to their name.

A lot has changed in football over the last 100 years including the club’s name. The club was known as Qasr-El-Neel when it was first formed and was changed to El-Mokhtalat Club before settling for their current name Zamalek in 1952. However, one thing that has remained the same is the club’s ambitions. Just like the Pharaoh with the arrow on their logo, Zamalek continues to aim as high as possible as they continue the fight to achieve their goals.
       
-JP

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