By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport Online

Jo Bonfrere is critical of the unfair treatment his team has reportedly received from Egyptian league referees.

The Al-Ahly trainer said arch-rivals Zamalek appear to be given better treatment from the men in black.

"The referees support Zamalek too much," Bonfrere complained to BBC Sport Online.

"In the league we have had referees that denied us clear penalties. This has happened not once but three times.

"When it is Zamalek, they will get the penalty but never us."

The giants of Egyptian football, who have won the last two African Champions league titles, face each other in the 90th Cairo derby on Thursday.

Ahly thrashed Zamalek 6-1 when they met last May.

Bonfrere took Ahly away from their Cairo base to prepare for the tie and said it has helped them to focus on the task at hand.

"The match is all the television, radio, newspapers and football fans talk about.

"But we've been out of Cairo to prepare, which takes us away from all that. Zamalek also had a three-day training camp in Alexandria to prepare.

"Personally, it is not as exciting as it is for others in Egypt. As I'm not Egyptian, I don't feel this pressure.

"But like every other match, it is one that I would like to win."

Bonfrere, who managed Nigeria to the football gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, recently made Egyptian league history.

He led Ahly to win 12 successive games in the league, the first time that any club had done so.

But the Dutchman said he is not overwhelmed by the feat.

"I really do not care about the record. What matters is the 36 points we have, five more than Zamalek's."

"Thursday's game is not going to be easy but I am confident that we can win," he said.