Ahly hire another Portuguese coach

Al-Ahly of Egypt have named Portuguese Nelo Vingada coach on a two-year contract, club officials said here on Saturday.

He succeeds compatriot Manuel Jose, who resigned from the Cairo ‘Red Devils’ last month to take over struggling Angola, hosts of the 2010 African Nations Cup.

Silver-haired Vingada, 56, is heading in the opposite coaching direction, quitting as coach of Jordan to take over the most successful club in African football history.

Ahly won the African Champions League a record sixth time last year and last month clinched another Egyptian title by defeating Ismailia in a play-off after an unusually tight race.

“Vingada has been chosen because he is familiar with local football having coached in Egypt before and also in other Arab countries,” team co-ordinator Hady Khashaba told Ahly television.

The Portuguese coached fiercest Cairo rivals Zamalek five years ago, winning the title for the ‘White Knights’ only to be released after one year for failing to make an impression at international level.