Zamalek youngsters Hossam Arafat and Alaa Ali heaped praise on manager Hossam Hassan after both led their side to a 2-0 victory over ENPPI. Ali scored the opener in his first start of the season before Arafat sealed the victory in his first ever appearance for Zamalek's first team. A talented winger and playmaker, Ali was promoted by former manager Michel Decastel last season but couldn't find a place this season after Zamalek signed Amr Zaki and Mido. Arafat only emerged as a potential first-team player last September, when he was a regular starter for the Egyptian team who reached the round of the 16 in the U-20 World Cup. With Zaki and Mido leaving for the Premiership in January, the two youngsters found their place in Hassan's plans. "The manager gave me a lot of his time and effort during the past period and today I wanted to thank him for that," Ali said. "I expected that I would start against ENPPI and I wanted to repay his trust," added Ali, who broke the deadlock with a venomous left-footer in the first-half.
Arafat He played beside Shikabala off the shoulders of Zamalek's loan striker Ahmed Gaafar. Huge Experience A Gaafar header in the second period was blocked by ENPPI and Egypt youth team keeper Ali Lotfi only for Arafat to score the second on the rebound. "When I was a kid, I was dreaming of just meeting Hossam Hassan," the 20-year-old midfielder said about his coach. Hassan is seen as Egypt's most successful striker of all time. He played for Zamalek and Ahli as well as representing the national team for 20 years, winning three African Cup titles. "It's a huge experience to play under the guidance of him. I will do my best to keep my starting place."
