Mahmoud El Khatib, president of Al Ahly Club, issued a stern warning to players who fail to deliver the required commitment, at a time when criticism directed at the football team has escalated.
The message came on Thursday evening during a ceremony honoring the men’s and women’s handball teams after their coronation as African champions, in the presence of Hassan Moustafa, president of the International Handball Federation, and Khaled Fathy, president of the Egyptian Federation.
El Khatib said during the ceremony: “A message to any uncommitted player wearing the Al Ahly shirt: he has only himself to blame.”
His remarks coincided with a 3-3 draw against Al-Qanah in the seventh round of the league, a match in which Al Ahly took the lead twice before needing an Ashraf Dari header in the 94th minute to avoid defeat.
The club had announced the imposition of doubled financial penalties on the players by decision of football director Wael Gomaa, who held an extensive meeting with the team in the presence of Hussein Ammouta to discuss the decline in technical and physical levels of several elements.
Al Ahly occupies second place with 17 points, four points behind leaders Pyramids and one point ahead of Zamalek, after achieving five wins and two draws in seven rounds, without suffering a defeat in the competition.
Despite the team remaining in the title race, ongoing defensive errors and fluctuating results during matches have increased the pressure on Ammouta, who had led Al Ahly prior to the Al-Qanah match to a 2-1 victory over Uganda’s Kitara in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup round of 32, after trailing in the first half.
Al Ahly is awaiting to host Kitara on Sunday, October 25, to secure qualification, before facing Modern in the league on 29th, in two tests that come following clear administrative measures and a message from the club president putting commitment and responsibility under the spotlight.
