Haras El Hodood, led by Mohamed Mekki, is gearing up to face El Sekka El Hadid in the upcoming Wednesday clash, marking the fifth round of the Egyptian Premier League’s promotion phase for the 2023-2024 season.
Sitting comfortably in fourth place in the promotion group standings with 42 points, Haras El Hodood is merely one point behind Wadi Degla and Ghazl El Mahalla, the second and third-placed teams, respectively.
In exclusive remarks to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Mohamed Mekki, the coach of Haras El Hodood, emphasized, “The competition remains fierce, with minimal gaps between clubs, and our team still has crucial matches against those vying for promotion to the Premier League.”
Mekki added, “Haras El Hodood is a formidable force and continues to compete until the final moments of the competition, despite not reinforcing the squad with new signings at the beginning of the season due to registration restrictions.”
Regarding the financial capabilities, Mekki acknowledged the challenges, stating, “Our financial resources are relatively limited compared to other competing clubs, but I have faith in the abilities of our players to return to the Premier League.”
Commenting on the Egyptian Premier League, Mekki suggested some adjustments, saying, “While the league experience has been largely successful, it requires some modifications.
I hope the tournament adopts a full two-round system to ensure fairness among clubs, as it’s not equitable to play two matches at the opponent’s stadium.”
Former Haras El Hodood star Mekki noted, “The Egyptian Premier League has provided a significant opportunity for clubs to interact with highly experienced coaches by playing in a single group rather than three separate ones.”
He concluded by urging the Egyptian Football Association to address stadium conditions, stating, “Some stadiums are unfit for hosting matches.
Additionally, attention must be given to refereeing, as certain decisions can significantly impact clubs’ fates after an arduous season.”
