Pyramids FC winger Ahmed ‘Qata’ Atef has asked rival fans from Al Ahly and Zamalek for their support when they host Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League final second-leg. The two teams clash on Sunday night at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo [7 PM].
They played a 1-1 draw in the first leg, as the Egyptians got a late equaliser at Loftus Stadium last Saturday. After that game, Pyramids coach Krunoslav Jurčić said typically they have between 50 and 100 fans at their games. He invited all Egyptians to come to the June 30 Stadium to rally behind the team.
“We’re alone, in all this season, without any support, but I think we’re stronger in this situation,” Jurčić told journalists in Pretoria.
“We will continue like this. Please, all the people of Egypt, come to our stadium because for seven days we’re playing for Egypt. We’re playing for Egyptian football, my guys deserve support. I thought that the stadium would be full. We don’t have maybe 50 or 100 supporters, this is maximum on our matches, but please come support these guys because they deserve it.”
Interestingly, many fans of both Zamalek and Al Ahly have vowed to support the South African champions, as they don’t want their rivals to win the title.
AHMED ATEF CALLS ON AHLY & ZAMALEK FANS
Atef has reiterated his coach’s sentiments, saying Sunday’s final was not just a Pyramids assignment. “Now is not the time to say Al Ahly, Zamalek, or Pyramids. We are an Egyptian team representing the entire country, and we hope everyone will be behind us,” said the man nicknamed ‘Qata’.
He declared the team’s readiness to face the Brazilians, stating that their domestic league title disappointment is firmly behind them. Pyramids finished second behind Al Ahly in the just-ended season.
While the club still has an ongoing case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] that they believe should earn them league honours, the Cairo-based side is now entirely focused on Sunday’s historic final.
“We know that Sundowns is a strong team, but that does not cause us as much concern as Pyramids,” he said, translated. “We trust ourselves and will play a great match, God willing.”
Meanwhile, Moroccan midfielder Walid El Karti, who scored Pyramids’ equaliser in the dying minutes of last weekend’s encounter, said they were working on avoiding conceding any goals at home. He, however, admits Sundowns’ team possesses experience at this level of the game.
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