Sports
One step from Africa title
This year's prestigious African clubs championship winds down in Cairo on Friday, December 21, after Egyptian champions Ahly tied South Africa's top team Sun Downs in a tight 1-1 match in Pretoria on Saturday. The December 21 contest is set to makes waves in town, with organizers hoping for a sell-out crowd. Al-Wafd reports that Joseph Blatter, the head of the world soccer governing body FIFA, is set to attend the match.
Al-Ahly is back in town from Pretoria and have begun training for the contest. If they win, it will be the third time in its history that Ahly has picked up the continental title. Although the club awarded each player a $1000 bonus for getting this far in the tourney, the team's coach warned that the players shouldn't get too complacent so as not to lose concentration for the all-important final.
(December 11, 2001)

Traffic
Pedestrian zone right after eid
The North Gamaliya corridor -- a brand new alternate route connecting downtown Cairo with the city's eastern side -- has been officially opened, in preparation for the closure of Al-Azhar street to motorized traffic right after the eid el-fitr holiday, reports Al-Wafd. Traffic authorities are trying to pave the way for a smooth transition in traffic flow once the all-important Al-Azhar Street becomes a pedestrian-only area from Darasa to Port Said Street. Al-Azhar tunnel -- which opened last month to much fanfare and quite a bit of controversy -- is also a major part of the long-term plan to completely change the physical appearance and composition of the historic area.
(December 11, 2001)