Mosimane Optimistic Despite Draw With National Bank

Experienced Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane was visibly a disappointed man when his charges failed to get all the three points against relegation- threatened National Bank in a Egyptian Premier League match played at Al Ahly WE Al Salam Stadium.

The Cairo giants were coming from a CAF Champions League triumph on Saturday and were looking for maximum points in the rescheduled domestic league game but National Bank proved to be a hard nut to crack giving us much as they received.

Al Ahly took the lead after Mohamed Afsha scored in the 48th minute only to be canceled by a late equaliser from Karim Bambo five minutes before time.

Mosimane has said that there is still hope for the team to retain the Premier League title but at the same time complain of unavailability of six key players who are away on international duty.

“We will fight for the League title,”the South African gaffer said.”We have mistakes and we have to correct them. We did not play well and I am disappointed with my team and myself.

“We had several chances in the first half, but we failed to convert them. Football always punishes you when you do not take the chances.

“If I want to find an easy way out, I will say absences, but I am not the type of coach who looks for execuses. We knew from the beginning that we will miss players.

“We have to support the country. It is not a FIFA tournament and you can say no, just as the European clubs that said no.”

Al Ahly trail table leaders Zamalek by nine points but have three games in hand as the Egyptian Premier League title race looks poised to go down to the wire.