The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has frozen the country`s domestic league until the end of the Pharaohs` involvement in the 2004 Nations Cup.
The body elected to freeze local competition in order to give the national team adequate preparation time ahead of the forthcoming Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.
EFA officials said they had no choice but to delay all domestic football due to the intense activities of the national teams - which are causing a major drain on the playing resources of local clubs.
"EFA decided to delay the league because it was impossible for the clubs to continue without all these players," Medhat Shalaby, an EFA official spokesman, told the BBC Sport website.
At present, Egypt`s youth team is participating in the World Youth Cup in the United Arab Emirates while the Pharaohs are preparing for a friendly tournament in Bahrain between 12-18 December.
In
addition, the Egyptian military team is currently defending its title at the Military Football World Championship in Italy while Egypt`s Olympic team is in a preparation camp ahead of the forthcoming Athens 2004 qualifier against Senegal.
The EFA`s decision to freeze the country`s football means that the Egyptian league, which started in August and was originally due to end in May, will be suspended for more than 70 days.
Yet some coaches have greeted the news with relief.
"I am very happy about it," said Al Ahly`s Portuguese coach Manuel Jose.
"It will give us time to rebuild our team."
The Egyptian championship will resume some 7-10 days after the Pharaohs have exited the Nations Cup finals, although it is unclear whether the league will still end in May.
Egypt cancelled the league in 1990 as the Pharaohs prepared for that year`s World Cup finals in Italy.
