Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry said Saturday's game against El-Entag El-Harby in the ninth round of the Egyptian Premier League is very important in the team's bid for their 39th trophy.
"This game is a beginning of nine successive games ahead of another league pause due to national activity," El-Badry told the Cairo-based club official website Wednesday.
The domestic competition will pause again ahead of the Egyptian national team participation in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon between 14 January and 5 February.
The league resumes this week after a short break due to another continental commitment for the Pharaohs who were able to defeat Ghana 2-0 on Sunday in the second round of the2018 World Cup qualifiers.
"I am very satisfied with the performance of Ahly's international trio, winger Ahmed Fathi, defender Ahmed Hegazy and midfielder Abdulla El-Said, in the Ghana game. They were among the stars of the game," he added.
The record holders of 38 league trophies, Ahly, are at the top of the table with 20 points from eight games, with six wins and two draws.
"I really hoped to gain the full mark from the first 8 games but the current results are still satisfying," he concluded.
