Latest news with #KrunoslavJurcic
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 National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Pyramids celebrate first ever African title and set sights on competing with Al Ahly and Zamalek
Egyptian upstarts Pyramids celebrated a first ever African title on Sunday night – but their Croatian coach Krunoslav Jurcic admitted they still face a struggle to assert themselves domestically. Having secured a 1-1 draw away in Pretoria against Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg, the Egyptians were slight favourites heading into the decisive return game on home turf. And so it transpired, with their 2-1 win on the night sealing a historic 3-2 aggregate victory. Pyramids' goals came from Congolese striker Fiston Mayele in the 24th minute and defender Ahmed Samy 10 minutes into the second half. Sundowns managed to reduce the arrears with a goal from Ikram Reiners in the 75th minute, but the hosts saw the job through. Pyramids – who changed their name, moved to Cairo and won promotion to the Egyptian top flight seven years ago – were able to celebrate by far the biggest night since adopting their new identity. It was only their second trophy – after Egyptian Cup success last season – and came in just their second CAF 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 football but often 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 [in Egypt],' 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 pre-match appeals for support led to a 30,000-strong crowd at Sunday's decider in the June 30 Stadium, usually largely empty for their games. Cairo's passionate football followers traditionally support either Al Ahly or Zamalek, with precious little affection for any of the other sides based in the city. 'I'm very grateful for the crowd that came today,' said Jurcic 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 to get them up for the matches.' 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,' he added. 'But whether we can stay a force is something to see in the future.'
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Pyramids are champions of continent but still second best at home
Unfancied Pyramids FC 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 — which changed its name, moved to Cairo and won promotion to the Egyptian top flight seven years ago — triumphed in the CAF Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win over two legs against Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. It was a second trophy, after Egyptian Cup success last season, for the club in just its second Champions League campaign. Pyramids 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 Pyramids 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 sideline 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.
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.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Pyramids are champions of continent but still second best at home
CAIRO, June 2 (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." 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.
