Retiring Gomaa proud of 'dream' start, finale with Egypt's Ahly

Ahly's veteran defender Wael Gomaa said he could not have enjoyed better start and finale with the Red Devils after announcing that he would quit football at the end of the season, putting icing on the cake of a glittering career. Gomaa, whose debut after joining from Ghazl El-Mahalla saw Ahly claim a stunning 1-0 victory at home to Real Madrid in a friendly game in 2001, helped the Cairo giants win a record-extending sixth African Super Cup following a 3-2 victory over Tunisia's Sfaxien on Monday. Should Ahly fail to win the Egyptian Premier League this season, the Super Cup will mark Gomaa's last triumph before he hang up his boots. "My first match was a historic one against Real Madrid, and the last one is 'super'. This is a dream start and a dream end," the 38-year-old said in an interview with Ahly's official magazine. "I'm retiring as a champion. People will always remember that I retired after lifting the African Super Cup trophy." A rock-solid central defender, Wael Gomaa was one of the pillars of a hugely-successful Ahly side which swept Egypt and Africa with a host of titles. With Ahly, he won six Champions League titles, more than any other player, as well as seven Egyptian league accolades.  He also steered them to six Egyptian Cups and five African Super Cups. Source: Ahram Online