Nigerian striker Buba scores hat-trick as Egypt's premiership kicks off - Nigerian striker Minusu Buba was the uncontested star of the first week of play in the Egyptian football premiership. Buba, who plays for Sinai-based Gouna, won the star-of-the-week status after scoring all his team's three goals in a come-from-behind 3-3 draw at cup winner Enpi on Saturday. The 27-year-old Nigerian striker, who has been a constant attacking threat since arriving in Egypt six years ago, is off to a brilliant start, hoping to reproduce his 2009-2010 form when he was crowned the premiership’s top scorer with 14 goals.

Buba joined Gouna from Police Union in the off-season, where he has starred in the last three years.

Elsewhere on Saturday, newcomer club Interior, owned by the ministry of interior, drew 1-1 with Ittihad.

Ittihad, the most popular team in Egypt's second city of Alexandria, was saved along with another Alexandrian team Somouha, and the Arab Contractors, by a decision from football authorities in Egypt to cancel relegation, due to the events of the 25 January revolution.

The new season was launched on Friday with a win for defending champion Al Ahly of Cairo.

Cairo's other giant, Zamalek, which finished 2nd in both league and cup, saw its game against Degla postponed after the latter's minor bus accident.

Canal clubs Ismaili and Masry also got three points out of three in their first showing in the 2011-2012 premiership season, just like the Army, the Police Union, and the Bourse.

This year's football premiership season features a record 19 teams, with 5 teams to be relegated at the end of what could be the longest premiership season in Egyptian football history.

Pana 16/10/2011