Latest news with #Jurcic
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Pyramids crowned African champions, still in shadow of Cairo giants
Egyptian club Pyramids might have been crowned African champions on Sunday, but their Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic said they still faced a struggle to assert themselves in their own country. The club - who changed their name, moved to Cairo and won promotion to the Egyptian top flight seven years ago - triumphed in the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win over two legs against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. It was only a second trophy, after Egyptian Cup success last season, for the club in just their second Champions League campaign. They have been seeking to emerge from the shadow of Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, who have not only dominated Egyptian competition but the Champions League as well. "When I started with the team last season, we played excellent football and had a long run of winning matches in a row but even then, this was not enough to be champion here,' said Jurcic. "This year again, we were very close but you know that Al Ahly is the best club in Africa, they are very good, they are very strong and it's very difficult to compete against a club like them." The 55-year-old Jurcic was delighted that his appeals for support ensured a 30,000-strong crowd at Sunday's decider in the June 30 Stadium, usually largely empty for their games, where they won the second leg 2-1. Cairo's passionate football followers traditionally support either Al Ahly or Zamalek, with little affection for any of the other sides based in the city. 'I'm very grateful for the crowd that came today,' he said after lifting the trophy. 'Usually we get to the stadium 90 minutes before kickoff and there is no one here. 'It's disheartening for the players, and I find it's my job to transmit positive energy to try and get them up for the matches,' Jurcic added. The former Croatia international, who played for his country when they finished third at the 1998 World Cup, patrolled the touchline like a man possessed, jumping up and down and cajoling his players throughout the 90 minutes of action. 'I believe that I can transmit my energy in a positive way, and I think that we can be competitive in the future with all the best teams in Egypt. 'But whether we can stay a force is something to see in the future,' he added.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Foreign trio help Egyptian club Pyramids become African champions
CONGOLESE prolific scorer Fiston Mayele, Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic and Emirati businessman Salem al Shamsi played key roles as Pyramids became the fourth Egyptian club to be crowned African champions. Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids beat South African rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Sunday in Cairo and 3-2 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League final. Mayele, 30, scored nine of the 37 Pyramids goals in 16 matches en route to glory and repaid the transfer fee when he moved to Egypt from Tanzanian club Young Africans in mid 2023. His goal haul was the best in the Champions League this season, with seven-goal Youcef Belaili from Tunisian outfit Esperance the Golden Boot runners-up. Born in the central Democratic Republic of Congo city of Mbuji-Mayi, Mayele began his professional career in 2019. He played for V Club in Kinshasa and Young Africans before moving to Egypt. Often seemingly invisible in a match, his predatory instincts put in the right place at the right time often allows him to deliver his clinical finishing. He excels at the 30 June Stadium home of Pyramids in Cairo, scoring twice against FAR Rabat in the quarter-finals and twice again against Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the semi-finals. Mayele then delivered the first blow against Sundowns in the second leg of the final, originating a sweeping move and finishing it by drilling a loose ball into the far corner of the net. Former Croatia midfielder Jurcic has the best winning rate of the many mainly foreign coaches Pyramids have deployed since the club changed their name from Al Assiouty in 2018 and moved to Cairo. Largely unknown in Africa until the knockout phase of the Champions League, the 55-year-old constantly moves up and down the sideline, frantically shouting instructions. - Positive energy - 'I believe I can transmit my energy in a positive way,' said the coach whose previous highest profile position was a one-year stint from 2017 as Saudi Arabia coach. Many of the 19 Champions League triumphs by Egyptian clubs Al Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily and Pyramids were born out of blanket defending and clinical counterattacks. Jurcic does not fit that mould, though. He surprised Pirates in Johannesburg and Sundowns in Pretoria by adopting offensive tactics. He wants to outscore opponents rather than erect defensive barriers. While Mayele and six-goal Ibrahim Adel were the chief contributors to the 37 Champions League goals, a remarkable total of 19 players scored at least once in the African campaign. In recent years Pyramids have replaced Zamalek as the major rivals of Egyptian and African giants Ahly, and the financial backing of Al Shamsi has been crucial. Pyramids can compete for Egyptian and foreign stars with the two clubs who have dominated the domestic scene for decades. Apart from Mayele, defender Mohamed Chibi and midfielder Walid el Karti from Morocco and Burkina Faso midfielder Blati Toure started in both legs of the final. When the final whistle blew on a warm, windy night in Cairo and Pyramids began celebrating victory over Sundowns, no one was happier than Pyramids captain and veteran goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy. He was one of four players in the Pyramids squad who had been part of the Zamalek team convincingly beaten by Sundowns in the 2016 Champions League title decider. Pyramids will have little time to celebrate conquering Africa though as they face Zamalek on Thursday in the Egyptian FA Cup final. Then, on a date to be announced, they will tackle Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, winners of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, in a CAF Super Cup match worth $500,000 to the winners.
France 24
a day ago
- Sport
- France 24
Foreign trio help Egyptian club Pyramids become African champions
Competing in the premier African club competition for only the second time, Pyramids beat South African rivals Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Sunday in Cairo and 3-2 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League final. Mayele, 30, scored nine of the 37 Pyramids goals in 16 matches en route to glory and repaid the transfer fee when he moved to Egypt from Tanzanian club Young Africans in mid 2023. His goal haul was the best in the Champions League this season, with seven-goal Youcef Belaili from Tunisian outfit Esperance the Golden Boot runners-up. Born in the central Democratic Republic of Congo city of Mbuji-Mayi, Mayele began his professional career in 2019. He played for V Club in Kinshasa and Young Africans before moving to Egypt. Often seemingly invisible in a match, his predatory instincts put in the right place at the right time often allows him to deliver his clinical finishing. He excels at the 30 June Stadium home of Pyramids in Cairo, scoring twice against FAR Rabat in the quarter-finals and twice again against Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the semi-finals. Mayele then delivered the first blow against Sundowns in the second leg of the final, originating a sweeping move and finishing it by drilling a loose ball into the far corner of the net. Former Croatia midfielder Jurcic has the best winning rate of the many mainly foreign coaches Pyramids have deployed since the club changed their name from Al Assiouty in 2018 and moved to Cairo. Largely unknown in Africa until the knockout phase of the Champions League, the 55-year-old constantly moves up and down the sideline, frantically shouting instructions. Positive energy "I believe I can transmit my energy in a positive way," said the coach whose previous highest profile position was a one-year stint from 2017 as Saudi Arabia coach. Many of the 19 Champions League triumphs by Egyptian clubs Al Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily and Pyramids were born out of blanket defending and clinical counterattacks. Jurcic does not fit that mould, though. He surprised Pirates in Johannesburg and Sundowns in Pretoria by adopting offensive tactics. He wants to outscore opponents rather than erect defensive barriers. While Mayele and six-goal Ibrahim Adel were the chief contributors to the 37 Champions League goals, a remarkable total of 19 players scored at least once in the African campaign. In recent years Pyramids have replaced Zamalek as the major rivals of Egyptian and African giants Ahly, and the financial backing of Al Shamsi has been crucial. Pyramids can compete for Egyptian and foreign stars with the two clubs who have dominated the domestic scene for decades. Apart from Mayele, defender Mohamed Chibi and midfielder Walid el Karti from Morocco and Burkina Faso midfielder Blati Toure started in both legs of the final. When the final whistle blew on a warm, windy night in Cairo and Pyramids began celebrating victory over Sundowns, no one was happier than Pyramids captain and veteran goalkeeper Ahmed el Shenawy. He was one of four players in the Pyramids squad who had been part of the Zamalek team convincingly beaten by Sundowns in the 2016 Champions League title decider. Pyramids will have little time to celebrate conquering Africa though as they face Zamalek on Thursday in the Egyptian FA Cup final. Then, on a date to be announced, they will tackle Renaissance Berkane of Morocco, winners of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup, in a CAF Super Cup match worth $500,000 to the winners.
CAF
2 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Pyramids coach Jurcic writes his name in African football history
Published: Sunday, 01 June 2025 Pyramids FC etched their name into African football history on Sunday night, defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Cairo to lift their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League title and hand coach Krunoslav Jurcic a landmark personal triumph. The Egyptian club completed a 3-2 aggregate victory over the South African giants, adding their name to a distinguished list of champions and becoming Egypt's fourth club — after Al Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaily — to win the coveted continental title. Goals from Fiston Mayele and Ahmed Samy in each half gave Pyramids a strong 2-0 lead in the second leg at the Air Defense Stadium, following the 1-1 draw in Pretoria a week earlier. Although Iqraam Rayners pulled one back late on for Sundowns with a composed finish from the centre of the box, it wasn't enough to derail the Egyptian side's determined charge to glory. For Jurcic, the result is historic. The Croatian becomes the first from his country to win the CAF Champions League — a feat that places him alongside legendary European tacticians who have left their mark on African football, echoing the achievements of Yugoslavians Ivan Ridanovic and Branko Zutic in the 1970s and '80s. Having reached the CAF Confederation Cup final last season, Pyramids have now gone one better, capping years of heavy investment with the ultimate prize on the continent. The result also confirms Egypt's unmatched dominance in African club football, with four different teams now continental champions — an unprecedented feat. Speaking before the final, Jurcic had urged the entire Egyptian football fraternity to back the club's quest: 'We will play our usual way, and we call on the Egyptian fans to support us for the sake of football in the country, not just for Pyramids.' The win not only rewards that belief but firmly establishes Pyramids as a new force in African football. With veterans like Walid El Karti, Sherif Ekramy, and Ramadan Sobhi forming the spine of the squad, Pyramids' moment in the spotlight has finally arrived — with Jurcic leading from the front.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Pyramids are champions of continent but still second best at home
Soccer Football - CAF Champions League - Final - Second Leg - Pyramids v Mamelodi Sundowns - 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - June 1, 2025 Pyramids' Mohamed Chibi celebrates with the trophy after winning the CAF Champions League REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh CAIRO (Reuters) -Unfancied Pyramids of Egypt might have been crowned African champions on Sunday, but their Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic said they still faced a struggle to assert themselves in their own country. The club - who changed their name, moved to Cairo and won promotion to the Egyptian top flight seven years ago - triumphed in the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win over two legs against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. It was only a second trophy, after Egyptian Cup success last season, for the club in just their second Champions League campaign. They have been seeking to emerge from the shadow of Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, who have not only dominated Egyptian competition but the Champions League as well. "When I started with the team last season, we played excellent football and had a long run of winning matches in a row but even then, this was not enough to be champion here,' said Jurcic. "This year again, we were very close but you know that Al Ahly is the best club in Africa, they are very good, they are very strong and it's very difficult to compete against a club like them." SUPPORT The 55-year-old Jurcic was delighted that his appeals for support ensured a 30,000-strong crowd at Sunday's decider in the June 30 Stadium, usually largely empty for their games, where they won the second leg 2-1. Cairo's passionate football followers traditionally support either Al Ahly or Zamalek, with little affection for any of the other sides based in the city. 'I'm very grateful for the crowd that came today,' he said after lifting the trophy. 'Usually we get to the stadium 90 minutes before kickoff and there is noone here. 'It's disheartening for the players, and I find it's my job to transmit positive energy to try and get them up for the matches,' Jurcic added. The former Croatia international, who played for his country when they finished third at the 1998 World Cup, patrolled the touchline like a man possessed, jumping up and down and cajoling his players throughout the 90 minutes of action. 'I believe that I can transmit my energy in a positive way, and I think that we can be competitive in the future with all the best teams in Egypt. 'But whether we can stay a force is something to see in the future,' he added. (Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
