Gérer les Gones
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pistolped7
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pistolped7
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Oh, thanks very much, means a lot! <3
Good stuff, mate. Haven't had a chance to read through it all, but from skimming, you're doing well and it's a great style! One thing, though - Any chance you could make the updates a little neater? Nice font (trebuchet?) and less bold? Othewrise, though - KUTGW
pistolped7
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Cheers, bud!
Yeah, I'll try and cut down on the bold and try a few different fonts...never really thought bout fonts, cos I wrote out the drafts on WordPad in Calibri, but that isn't on this and I don't like many other ones, but I'll give Trebuchet a go. ---------- Post added at 02:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 AM ----------
La colonne gaffer
After having made it through the ordeal of waiting for their luggage and making it through passport control, the pair decided to go home, as it was 10pm in Lyon.
*******
The following day, Claude Puel arrived at the Stade Gerland and went into his office. He sat on the chair behind his desk and pulled his laptop from its bag. He opened it and accessed his e-mail. There were four waiting for him.The first one was from a Ivorian organisation, telling him he'd just won $78.5 million. Puel deleted the e-mail. Another one was from Bruno Genesio, telling him what had happened in the game against Colmar.
Genesio decided to play the same team that played Amiens and they won 5-1. Bafetimbi Gomis got one, as did both Kim Kallstrom and Miralem Pjanic while sub Yannis Tafer got a brace.
Puel opened another, and this one was from the club's special adviser, Bernard Lacombe.
It read:
'Claude,
just a short message to let you in on an idea we had. We thought that, this season, we'd use the website to try to give fans more of an insight into the inner workings of the club. We just wanted to ask you if you'd be prepared to do a monthly blog/column for the website, let the fans know what's going on, etc. Get back to us and we'll give you a staff account for the site and you can get up and running!
Merci,
Bernard.'
Puel replied telling Lacombe he would do it, and he had some spare time on his hands so he would do it right now, if he replied.
A few minutes later, Puel heard a knock at his door. He opened the door and it was Bernard Lacombe, here to set Puel up on the club website. A few minutes later, Puel was finished creating his column.
----------
Bonjour, Lyonnais!
I'm here every month to give you my view!
I'm here every month to give you my view!
Hi, all OL supporters! This is a short message to tell you I will have a monthly column now, to let you in on the inner workings of the club.
Please, do not hesitate to leave a message for me or one of the players, and it will be personally answered.
---------
Puel chuckled, actually quite excited at the prospect of having his own little column.
Just as he finished, he got a call from Bruno Genesio, saying that Yoann Gourcuff was flying in tomorrow to discuss personal terms, after the clubs agreed a fee.
Puel grinned. This would compensate Lyon for missing out on Shinji Kagawa.
Genesio also said that Puel should try and organise some friendlies for the proper pre-season, once the World Cup players return.
He called a few clubs around Europe, and got three friendlies. Away to Celtic, at home to Feyenoord and then away to Sunderland. These games would be played in a few weeks time.
Puel grabbed his laptop and his coat, and got into his car outside the stadium. He was heading to the airport yet again, this time to pick up Gourcuff and his agent. They would be arriving soon. If Gourcuff signed, Puel's vision for Lyon would be almost complete.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologise for the poor quality of this update, was done in a bit of rush, so sorry about that. Will try and put up a better one in the next few days.
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I apologise for the poor quality of this update, was done in a bit of rush, so sorry about that. Will try and put up a better one in the next few days.
What you apologising for? The update is just like the others, great
pistolped7
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What you apologising for? The update is just like the others, great
Really? Thanks! Oh, and ty for sigging me!
pistolped7
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Will have one soon, hopefully. Probs tomorrow.
Will have one soon, hopefully. Probs tomorrow.
* patiently counts down the minutes *
---------- Post added at 12:53 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 12:38 AM ----------
cant believe this was on the 3rd page :O
update beckoning Pit?
pistolped7
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* patiently counts down the minutes *
---------- Post added at 12:53 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 12:38 AM ----------
cant believe this was on the 3rd page :O
update beckoning Pit?
Yep, didn't have time yesterday but I'll have one up tomorrow definitely.
---------- Post added at 04:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 AM ----------
La négociation
Claude Puel arrived at the Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport, and waited in the arrivals lounge for Yoann Gourcuff and his agent to arrive. Gourcuff was coming to Lyon to discuss personal terms over a move to Lyon, after his club, Bordeaux, and Lyon agreed a fee.
He sat reading a news article on his laptop about Djibril Cisse being a target for Lyon. Puel chuckled, and wondered where the paper got this story from, and who the 'source inside the Stade Gerland' was, seing as Lyon and Panathinaikos had no contact over the summer, bar the sale of Sidney Govou.
Puel was busy surfing on another football website when he saw, out the corner of his eye, the TV screen showing the current status of flights had changed flight AF1347 from Bordeaux-Merignac Airport had landed.
Puel closed his laptop over, picked up his newspaper and stood at the archway through which the arrivals entered into the airport, after picking up their luggage, passport control, etc.
Twenty minutes or so later, Puel shook the hands of Gourcuff and his new agent, Jacques Lillehammer. Puel escorted them to his car, parked just outside the terminal building, and drove them straight to the Stade Gerland.
*******
Jacques Lillehammer was a big name in football. A former Norwegian international, born of French parents, Lillehammer was a tough central defender, with an immense heading ability. Lillehammer scored 5 goals in 13 international games for Norway between 1989 and 1997. Lillehammer started his career at Valerenga IF as a 16 year old, and played two games for the first team. He did not impress the Norwegian giants, however, and was shipped out to Shamrock Rovers, St Mirren, Luton Town and Llanelli before finally being sold to AIK Solna, who saw potential in the now 19-year old. He impressed there, and earned a move to Rangers. He won three SPL titles there, and also played at the 1994 World Cup with Norway, before moving to Valencia.
Then, at 23, he played in Europe for the Spaniards and played against the likes of Ronaldo and Romario. However, in a EURO 96 qualifying game away to Malta, Lillehammer went in for a 50-50 tackle with Hubert Suds, he broke his leg in two places, and was forced to retire.
Now, Lillehammer takes a similar off-the-pitch attitude to his on-the-pitch one. He is tough, demanding and intimidating.
*******
The three men arrived at the Stade Gerland under a heavy rainstorm. They rushed inside and made their way to the boardroom, where Puel would leave Gourcuff and Lillehammer with the Lyon negotiators. Meanwhile, Puel went to the Centre Tola Volage to give the negotiators some time; both parties wanted a deal to be done today.
A few hours went by, and Puel sent the players home after their session. He drove back to the stadium and went up to the boardroom. He saw Gourcuff, Lillehammer and the negotiators sitting and laughing. Puel asked how they were getting on, and he was told that Gourcuff had signed a five-year contract. Puel smiled, and shook the hands of Gourcuff and Lillehammer and invited them to come back to the stadium in a few days to meet the fans.
Puel went back downstairs after a while, and recieved a text from Remi Garde, asking him if he wanted to accompany him on a trip to North Africa and the Middle East for two weeks, scouting for young talent.
Garde said he would, and Garde told him that they would travel to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Puel went home to pack his bags before leaving the next day with Garde to their first destination, Marrakech.
pistolped7
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Cheers.
Probs, yeah :L They also said Lionel Messi was having a trial at AFC Wimbledon :/
AldoKemp-1
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Superb story, It just reminds me of fuelleds dortmund one, Classic 
I'll defo follow mate! :wub:
I'll defo follow mate! :wub:pistolped7
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Cheers, aldo!
AldoKemp-1
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When you updating mate !? missing reading a lengthy story full of great writing and detail :S
pistolped7
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Might have one up tonight
---------- Post added at 05:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------
"Tous les passagers d'Air Méditerranée DR123 Vol pour Marrakech, s'il vous plaît faites votre chemin à la porte 36."
Puel followed the instructions over the tannoy and made his way to gate 36 for his flight to Marrakech, along with Remi Garde.
He reached the gate and brandished his passport and boarding pass. He went through the gate and boarded the plane. Puel and Garde sat in their seats and waited for the plane to take off.
Puel looked at his schedule. First they were to see visit football clubs in Marrakech and Casablanca, before a flight to Cairo, where they were to see Zamalek play Al-Ahly, then to Tunis to watch the Tunisian national side play. After that, Bahrain beckoned, where Puel and Garde would check out the training facilities and youth academies there. In Saudi Arabia, they were going to look at the different stadia there, as they would in the UAE, where they would see the plans for stadia being built there. Also, they would look at plans for Qatari stadiums, being built for the 2022 World Cup, should they win rights to it. This was in preparation for Lyon's new stadium being built, currently named 'OL Land'.
Puel decided to get some shut-eye before they arrived in the Moroccan capital, and he did so before the plane touched down.
They arrived in Marrakech at 7.30 local time, but didn't get out of the airport until an hour later.
They decided to go to their hotel first, the Marrakech Hotel & Leisure Complex, 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel was stunning, with white marble floor complemented by a pristine spiral staircase, with marble flooring on it as well as translucent glass. A white marble front desk ('They sure like their marble' Puel thought as he strode in) was in front of a black wooden envelope filing cabinet, with small square spaces in which visitors letters were put. Puel and Garde walked up to the desk and smiled at the young man behind it.
"مساء الخير، أيها السادة."
"Sorry, we are French." Puel smiled.
"Oh." the young man's face screwed up.
"Do you speak English?"
"A little, yes." Puel nodded.
"Okay. Good evening, do you have a reservation?"
"Yes. Puel and Garde?"
"Just a minute..."
Garde tapped his fingers on the desk and looked around the front lobby.
"Yes, here it is. You are in the Casablanca Villa, 5th floor. Here's our key, have a pleasant stay."
The young man smiled in their direction, and handed them their room key.
After having a look at their room, Puel and Garde unpacked their cases and got some sleep ahead of their big day tomorrow.
7.00 am, and the pair from Lyon wake up and get dressed, ready for theid day ahead. However, the clubs they were meant to visit had cancelled their appointments, without reason, only leaving brief messages on Puel's mobile.
Disappointed that their trip to Marrakech would not involve a trip to the cities big clubs, Puel turned on the TV. He turned round to pour a bowl of Corn Flakes when he heard a knock at his door. He opened it, and it was the young man who was behind the desk last night. His clothes were pristinely ironed and he stood smiling as Puel opened the door.
"Good morning, sir. The clubs called about the cancellations, there was a explosion caused by a gas leak nearby and it caused considerable damage to the stadium."
Puel's eyes opened widely, and he thanked the man. He told Garde, and he looked disappointed. He had an idea, however, that they could take a day off from the trip to prepare for Cairo.
That's what they did. And so, with their trip off to the worst possible start, Puel and Garde were excited at the prospect of seeing a Cairo derby the next day - Al-Ahly vs. Zamalek.
---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 05:33 AM ----------
"Zamalek! Zamalek! Zamalek!"
"Ahly, Ahly, Ahly!"Puel and Garde watched on as Ah-Ahly and Zamalek's fans attempted to out-chant each other in the packed Cairo International Stadium. Flares, flags and banners, red and white, fluttered around the stadium, as the two sets of supporters anxiously awaited the arrival of the two sides.
Then, the time came. The players, accompanied by the match officials of course, walked out onto the pitch to raucous applause, fans of each side boisterously screaming at the opposing teams' players. The players lined up in front of the main stand, standing proudly wearing their clubs colours.
Al-Ahly, in red, and Zamalek, in white, have always been Egypt's 'big two'. And when these two come together, fireworks should be expected. And as the players shook hands (somewhat begrudgingly, it seemed), the fans were louder than they had been for the last hour.
Zamalek were to kick-off, former Wigan striker Amr Zaki and his strike partner Ahmed Gaafar standing with the ball at the centre-spot.
The referee blew his whistle, the catalyst which caused he stadium to erupt in a cacophonus bang of cheers from the fans.
The game started slowly, the two teams testing each other for the first twenty minutes or so. Then, Zamalek gained a throw-in, just inside their own half. Ahmed Samir threw the ball in, and had it returned straight away. He teased the ball towards Mohamed Barakat. He does a quick stepover and puts the ball through Barakat's legs. He sprints. He reaches the goalline. He turns. He looks up. He crosses it in. The ball finds Zaki. He smashes it into the net. Goal.
Al-Ahly 0, Zamalek 1.
The Zamalek supporters erupt and surge towards the pitch. Zaki runs up to the Zamalek fans, grinning toothily. He kisses the badge and is tackled by his team-mates. The Red Devils' fans sat silent. So did the players.
Al-Ahly stood, waiting to take the kick-off. The referee signalled the restart, and Al-Ahly immediately lost posession to Amr Zaki. Zaki beat one, beat two, and beat another before spraying the ball out to Ahmed Samir. He tried to cross it into the box, but it was blocked and went out for a corner. With Al-Ahly's goal in front of Zamalek's supporters, the noise was resonating around the stadium. The beating of the drums, the co-ordinated tribal chanting, the flares and the banners fluttering above their heads. It was intimidating for Puel and Garde, how must the Al-Ahly defence feel?
Samir placed the ball in the corner, and stepped back. He looked up. He curled the ball towards the back post. It met the head of Shikbala. Sherif Ekrami tipped the ball onto the post, but guess who was there to smash in the rebound? Amr Zaki, second goal.
Al-Ahly 0, Zamalek 2.
The game restarted, and it calmed down again until the referee blew his whistle for half-time. Zamalek's fans were cheering as loud and passionately as ever, while Al-Ahly's fans were either sitting sulking (or even crying, in some cases) or screaming abuse at their own players, while pulling their thumbs across their throats.
The second half began with Zamalek's fans still in full voice, and Al-Ahly's fans still quiet. However, the Red Devils were starting to get themselves back into the game again. Hossam Ghaly, formerly of Spurs, won the ball in the midfield and played a chipped pass into the path of Mohamed Fadl, who put the ball wide. But fifteen minutes late, Ghaly once again played a ball through to Fadl. He struck it with force, but the keeper saved it. Al-Ahly won a corner.
Ghaly stepped up to take it. He played it short to Mohamed Barakat. Barakat swung it in towards the back post. It swerved violently towards goal. It beat the keeper and hit off the underside of the bar, and bounced in. An freak goal, and Al-Ahly were back in it.
Al-Ahly 1, Zamalek 2.
The White Knights still held a lead, but the momentum was turning towards the Club of the 20th Century (African club of the century, awarded by FIFA). Zamalek kicked off, but Al-Ahly soon got another chance. Hossam Ghaly was at the centre of it again, this time his free-kick being turned over the bar.
Al-Ahly soon won another free-kick out on the left-hand side. Ghaly played it short to Ahmed Hassan. Hassan tapped the ball slowly closer to the box, before being hacked down from behind by Amr Zaki.
Cue madness.
Al-Ahly's players stampeded towards Zaki, who was holding his hands up, almost sarcastingly unassuming, as the ref struggled to keep control. The players were soon joined by the subs and coaches, who were trying to calm the situation. However, the police soon came on to try and calm things down. The players were separated, and the referee walked up to Zaki. He said a few words, and he pulled out a card that no White Knight wanted to see.
A red. Zaki was off, and Zamalek, under increasing pressure, were a man down.
Zaki was led off the pitch by the police, clad in riot gear, who guarded him with riot shields from any debris which may be thrown.
The victim, Ahmed Hassan, came off for former Middlesbrough midfielder Mohamed Shawky. Hossam Ghaly played the free-kick, which had been awarded six minutes previously, short to Shawky. He sent the ball into Zamalek's box from the halfway line. His ball in was met by a Zamalek defenders head, and it went out for an Al-Ahly thow-in, just inside their opponents half. Shawkly threw the ball to Ghaly, who spotted Osama Hosny making a run behind the centre-back. He played a ball towards the back post, and Hosny met it, volleying the ball in with the inside of his foot. A sublime finish, and Hosny celebrated with his team-mates on scoring the equaliser.
Al-Ahly 2, Zamalek 2.
El Blancos kicked off, a man down and now losing their grip on this game. Then, with only three minutes left, Osama Hosny was sent one-on-one with Abdelwahed El-Sayed Zamalek's iconic captain. Hosny tapped the ball past El-Sayed, but he was brought down. A whistle from the ref, and a point to the spot, sent Al-Ahly's fans into raptures.
What a comeback, what spirit, what passion! Two-nil down and seemingly beaten, only to come back and win!
But they would have to score the penalty first. The referee walked up to El-Sayed, and brandished a card. To Zamalek's despair, it was red. Now 2 men down, a captain down and, crucialy, a goalkeeper down. Youth keeper Mostafa Abdel Satar came on for Ahmed Samir.
Osama Hosny places the ball on the spot. He walks back towards the 18-yard line. He takes a deep breath. He looks up. He sprints towards the ball. He struck the ball with force to the left of the keeper. The keeper dives to his right. The ball crunches against the back of the net, and the Cairo International Stadium erupts. Goal. Hosny rips off his shirt and kisses it. His eyes well up with emotion as he screams, wide-eyed, at the Al-Ahly fans. He cries tears of joy. Al-Ahly have won.
Al-Ahly 3, Zamalek 2. The comeback is complete.
The referee blew the final whistle, and Al-Ahly's fans vaulted the barriers and surged towards Osama Hosny.
Claude Puel and Remi Garde got onto their plan, which was taking them to Tunis, Tunisia, where they would watch the Tunisian national side play Thailand.
"That was fantastic today, wasn't it?" Garde smiled.
Puel nodded in agreement, and continued to leaf through the match programme.
"Do you read Arabic?" Garde asked, puzzled.
"No," replied Puel, smiling, "I'm just looking at the pictures."
The two chuckled, and Puel closed the programme and looked out the window.
"I like Egypt," Puel said, still looking out the window, "maybe we could come back in January, see another game?"
"Yes, that sounds fun!" Garde smirked.
And as the plane took off, leaving Cairo behind, the two Lyonnais looked forward to the game the next day - Tunisia vs. Thailand.
-------------------------------
---------- Post added at 05:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 AM ----------
- X -
جولة في الشرق الأوسط
جولة في الشرق الأوسط
Part I - Marrakech, Morocco
"Tous les passagers d'Air Méditerranée DR123 Vol pour Marrakech, s'il vous plaît faites votre chemin à la porte 36."
Puel followed the instructions over the tannoy and made his way to gate 36 for his flight to Marrakech, along with Remi Garde.
He reached the gate and brandished his passport and boarding pass. He went through the gate and boarded the plane. Puel and Garde sat in their seats and waited for the plane to take off.
Puel looked at his schedule. First they were to see visit football clubs in Marrakech and Casablanca, before a flight to Cairo, where they were to see Zamalek play Al-Ahly, then to Tunis to watch the Tunisian national side play. After that, Bahrain beckoned, where Puel and Garde would check out the training facilities and youth academies there. In Saudi Arabia, they were going to look at the different stadia there, as they would in the UAE, where they would see the plans for stadia being built there. Also, they would look at plans for Qatari stadiums, being built for the 2022 World Cup, should they win rights to it. This was in preparation for Lyon's new stadium being built, currently named 'OL Land'.
Puel decided to get some shut-eye before they arrived in the Moroccan capital, and he did so before the plane touched down.
They arrived in Marrakech at 7.30 local time, but didn't get out of the airport until an hour later.
They decided to go to their hotel first, the Marrakech Hotel & Leisure Complex, 15 minutes from the airport. The hotel was stunning, with white marble floor complemented by a pristine spiral staircase, with marble flooring on it as well as translucent glass. A white marble front desk ('They sure like their marble' Puel thought as he strode in) was in front of a black wooden envelope filing cabinet, with small square spaces in which visitors letters were put. Puel and Garde walked up to the desk and smiled at the young man behind it.
"مساء الخير، أيها السادة."
"Sorry, we are French." Puel smiled.
"Oh." the young man's face screwed up.
"Do you speak English?"
"A little, yes." Puel nodded.
"Okay. Good evening, do you have a reservation?"
"Yes. Puel and Garde?"
"Just a minute..."
Garde tapped his fingers on the desk and looked around the front lobby.
"Yes, here it is. You are in the Casablanca Villa, 5th floor. Here's our key, have a pleasant stay."
The young man smiled in their direction, and handed them their room key.
*******
After having a look at their room, Puel and Garde unpacked their cases and got some sleep ahead of their big day tomorrow.
7.00 am, and the pair from Lyon wake up and get dressed, ready for theid day ahead. However, the clubs they were meant to visit had cancelled their appointments, without reason, only leaving brief messages on Puel's mobile.
Disappointed that their trip to Marrakech would not involve a trip to the cities big clubs, Puel turned on the TV. He turned round to pour a bowl of Corn Flakes when he heard a knock at his door. He opened it, and it was the young man who was behind the desk last night. His clothes were pristinely ironed and he stood smiling as Puel opened the door.
"Good morning, sir. The clubs called about the cancellations, there was a explosion caused by a gas leak nearby and it caused considerable damage to the stadium."
Puel's eyes opened widely, and he thanked the man. He told Garde, and he looked disappointed. He had an idea, however, that they could take a day off from the trip to prepare for Cairo.
That's what they did. And so, with their trip off to the worst possible start, Puel and Garde were excited at the prospect of seeing a Cairo derby the next day - Al-Ahly vs. Zamalek.
---------- Post added at 02:52 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 05:33 AM ----------
جولة في الشرق الأوسط
Part II - Cairo, Egypt - Al-Ahly vs. Zamalek
"Zamalek! Zamalek! Zamalek!"
"Ahly, Ahly, Ahly!"Puel and Garde watched on as Ah-Ahly and Zamalek's fans attempted to out-chant each other in the packed Cairo International Stadium. Flares, flags and banners, red and white, fluttered around the stadium, as the two sets of supporters anxiously awaited the arrival of the two sides.
Then, the time came. The players, accompanied by the match officials of course, walked out onto the pitch to raucous applause, fans of each side boisterously screaming at the opposing teams' players. The players lined up in front of the main stand, standing proudly wearing their clubs colours.
Al-Ahly, in red, and Zamalek, in white, have always been Egypt's 'big two'. And when these two come together, fireworks should be expected. And as the players shook hands (somewhat begrudgingly, it seemed), the fans were louder than they had been for the last hour.
Zamalek were to kick-off, former Wigan striker Amr Zaki and his strike partner Ahmed Gaafar standing with the ball at the centre-spot.
The referee blew his whistle, the catalyst which caused he stadium to erupt in a cacophonus bang of cheers from the fans.
The game started slowly, the two teams testing each other for the first twenty minutes or so. Then, Zamalek gained a throw-in, just inside their own half. Ahmed Samir threw the ball in, and had it returned straight away. He teased the ball towards Mohamed Barakat. He does a quick stepover and puts the ball through Barakat's legs. He sprints. He reaches the goalline. He turns. He looks up. He crosses it in. The ball finds Zaki. He smashes it into the net. Goal.
Al-Ahly 0, Zamalek 1.
The Zamalek supporters erupt and surge towards the pitch. Zaki runs up to the Zamalek fans, grinning toothily. He kisses the badge and is tackled by his team-mates. The Red Devils' fans sat silent. So did the players.
Al-Ahly stood, waiting to take the kick-off. The referee signalled the restart, and Al-Ahly immediately lost posession to Amr Zaki. Zaki beat one, beat two, and beat another before spraying the ball out to Ahmed Samir. He tried to cross it into the box, but it was blocked and went out for a corner. With Al-Ahly's goal in front of Zamalek's supporters, the noise was resonating around the stadium. The beating of the drums, the co-ordinated tribal chanting, the flares and the banners fluttering above their heads. It was intimidating for Puel and Garde, how must the Al-Ahly defence feel?
Samir placed the ball in the corner, and stepped back. He looked up. He curled the ball towards the back post. It met the head of Shikbala. Sherif Ekrami tipped the ball onto the post, but guess who was there to smash in the rebound? Amr Zaki, second goal.
Al-Ahly 0, Zamalek 2.
The game restarted, and it calmed down again until the referee blew his whistle for half-time. Zamalek's fans were cheering as loud and passionately as ever, while Al-Ahly's fans were either sitting sulking (or even crying, in some cases) or screaming abuse at their own players, while pulling their thumbs across their throats.
*******
The second half began with Zamalek's fans still in full voice, and Al-Ahly's fans still quiet. However, the Red Devils were starting to get themselves back into the game again. Hossam Ghaly, formerly of Spurs, won the ball in the midfield and played a chipped pass into the path of Mohamed Fadl, who put the ball wide. But fifteen minutes late, Ghaly once again played a ball through to Fadl. He struck it with force, but the keeper saved it. Al-Ahly won a corner.
Ghaly stepped up to take it. He played it short to Mohamed Barakat. Barakat swung it in towards the back post. It swerved violently towards goal. It beat the keeper and hit off the underside of the bar, and bounced in. An freak goal, and Al-Ahly were back in it.
Al-Ahly 1, Zamalek 2.
The White Knights still held a lead, but the momentum was turning towards the Club of the 20th Century (African club of the century, awarded by FIFA). Zamalek kicked off, but Al-Ahly soon got another chance. Hossam Ghaly was at the centre of it again, this time his free-kick being turned over the bar.
Al-Ahly soon won another free-kick out on the left-hand side. Ghaly played it short to Ahmed Hassan. Hassan tapped the ball slowly closer to the box, before being hacked down from behind by Amr Zaki.
Cue madness.
Al-Ahly's players stampeded towards Zaki, who was holding his hands up, almost sarcastingly unassuming, as the ref struggled to keep control. The players were soon joined by the subs and coaches, who were trying to calm the situation. However, the police soon came on to try and calm things down. The players were separated, and the referee walked up to Zaki. He said a few words, and he pulled out a card that no White Knight wanted to see.
A red. Zaki was off, and Zamalek, under increasing pressure, were a man down.
Zaki was led off the pitch by the police, clad in riot gear, who guarded him with riot shields from any debris which may be thrown.
The victim, Ahmed Hassan, came off for former Middlesbrough midfielder Mohamed Shawky. Hossam Ghaly played the free-kick, which had been awarded six minutes previously, short to Shawky. He sent the ball into Zamalek's box from the halfway line. His ball in was met by a Zamalek defenders head, and it went out for an Al-Ahly thow-in, just inside their opponents half. Shawkly threw the ball to Ghaly, who spotted Osama Hosny making a run behind the centre-back. He played a ball towards the back post, and Hosny met it, volleying the ball in with the inside of his foot. A sublime finish, and Hosny celebrated with his team-mates on scoring the equaliser.
Al-Ahly 2, Zamalek 2.
El Blancos kicked off, a man down and now losing their grip on this game. Then, with only three minutes left, Osama Hosny was sent one-on-one with Abdelwahed El-Sayed Zamalek's iconic captain. Hosny tapped the ball past El-Sayed, but he was brought down. A whistle from the ref, and a point to the spot, sent Al-Ahly's fans into raptures.
What a comeback, what spirit, what passion! Two-nil down and seemingly beaten, only to come back and win!
But they would have to score the penalty first. The referee walked up to El-Sayed, and brandished a card. To Zamalek's despair, it was red. Now 2 men down, a captain down and, crucialy, a goalkeeper down. Youth keeper Mostafa Abdel Satar came on for Ahmed Samir.
Osama Hosny places the ball on the spot. He walks back towards the 18-yard line. He takes a deep breath. He looks up. He sprints towards the ball. He struck the ball with force to the left of the keeper. The keeper dives to his right. The ball crunches against the back of the net, and the Cairo International Stadium erupts. Goal. Hosny rips off his shirt and kisses it. His eyes well up with emotion as he screams, wide-eyed, at the Al-Ahly fans. He cries tears of joy. Al-Ahly have won.
Al-Ahly 3, Zamalek 2. The comeback is complete.
The referee blew the final whistle, and Al-Ahly's fans vaulted the barriers and surged towards Osama Hosny.
*******
Claude Puel and Remi Garde got onto their plan, which was taking them to Tunis, Tunisia, where they would watch the Tunisian national side play Thailand.
"That was fantastic today, wasn't it?" Garde smiled.
Puel nodded in agreement, and continued to leaf through the match programme.
"Do you read Arabic?" Garde asked, puzzled.
"No," replied Puel, smiling, "I'm just looking at the pictures."
The two chuckled, and Puel closed the programme and looked out the window.
"I like Egypt," Puel said, still looking out the window, "maybe we could come back in January, see another game?"
"Yes, that sounds fun!" Garde smirked.
And as the plane took off, leaving Cairo behind, the two Lyonnais looked forward to the game the next day - Tunisia vs. Thailand.
AldoKemp-1
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Superb update again mate. Great writing KIU