Emam, Zamalek's family affair

In dark days Emam has been a shining beacon of hope for Zamalek. Since the 1940s, the name has been associated with the club's greatest feats. First it was Yehia, Egypt's No.1 and star of the 1948 Olympic Games, whose goalkeeping exploits did much to win ten League titles and four Egyptian Cup titles. Then came Hamada, the Fox, whose goals helped the White Tribe to two league titles and three cups. Hazem, Hamada's son and Yehia's grandson, has continued the bloodline, and in the first leg of the African Champions League semi-finals against Cairo rivals Al Ahly - as important a game as there has been in Zamalek's long and distinguished history, it was Hazem Emam who provided the lifeline, scoring the goal to reduce the deficit to 2-1.


Few would deny that these are difficult times for the club named after the small island situated in Cairo's Nile. Lately, Hamada Emam, now one of the country's leading football commentators, has had to talk about squad dissent, coaching ejections and boardroom upheaval while, all the time, Al Ahly have gone on to record one of the most remarkable winning records in world history.

But Zamalek are not yet out of the running for a place in the final of the African Champions League - and for that they have grandson, son, playing legend and captain, Hazem to thank. Now 30, the Egyptian Footballer of the Year in 2003, came off the bench late in the first leg to score a goal that might yet prove crucial.

"Zamalek to me is like home," said the player who reportedly turned down a US 1 million dollars offer from Ahly last year. "It was a vital goal. We were two goals down and it looked as if we were going to concede more.
"I felt it was a gift from God to revive our hopes and give faith to our supporters in the return leg."

Emam, who became the first Egyptian to play in Serie A when he signed for Udinese almost a decade ago, did admit that his team-mates had been affected by infighting at the club.

"It certainly has a bad influence on us as players, but at the end of the day we are professionals and we have a job to do regardless of all other circumstances," he said.

Emam believes that despite the loss to Ahly his team-mates' brave performance has helped reunite the club's faithful. It may seem a tall order but victory on Sunday would not only break Ahly's record but, perhaps more importantly, bring peace back to the place he likes to call home.

"I hope our fans will give us the support we need because in those tough moments you need an extra hand from the stands," said the player who is not far off completing a century of caps for his country.

If the African champions of three years ago are to pull off the win and write another page in their illustrious history, the name Emam is, once again, likely to feature prominently.
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