Egyptian mind games
by Gary Al-Smith 17 August 2012, 17:24
They complained about playing in Kumasi. They complained about the hotel they were given. Now Al Ahly have complained about the training facilities Chelsea offered them ahead of their game.
Egypt's Red Devils have been employing their famed psychological tactics, as they pushed aside almost every comfort the Ghana team has given them in anticipation of their crucial second leg African Champions League game in Accra on Sunday.
The Presbyterian Boys High School Park in Legon, located in the east of Accra, is the facility used by Ghana's junior national teams for training before major games. The facility was renovated and used by teams who based in Ghana's capital during the 2008 African Cup.
Al Ahly declined to use it, instead opting for the newer Lizzy Sports Complex nearby for a cost of almost $2000 for two days. The six-time champions arrived on Thursday afternoon and also refused the three-star Lincoln Hotel provided by Chelsea. They are lodging, instead, at the Oak Plaza Hotel - also a three star place - near the capital's international airport.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry's 22-man squadis without striker Emad Meteb, who has a hamstring injury. Experienced defender Wael Gomaa and Hossam Ashour are also out due to card-suspensions.
Ahly squad
Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekrami, Mahmoud Aboul-Sauod, Ahmed Adel
Defenders: Mohamed Najuib, Sherif Abdel-Fadil, Sayed Moawad, Ahmed Shedid, Ahmed Fathi, Ahmed Sedik, Ramy Rabia, Saad Samir
Midfielders: Hossam Ghaly, Trezeguet, Mohamed Barakat, Mohamed Abou-Trieka, Walid Soliman, Abdullah El-Saied, Mohamed Nagy "Gedo", Ahmed Shoukry
Strikers: Oussou Konan, Dominique Da Silva, El-Sayed Hamdy
