Ahly cancel training session ahead of Zamalek derby

Ahram Online , Saturday 6 Feb 2016

The Cairo derby between Ahly and Zamalek is due to take place Tuesday, though where remains subject to question

Ahly
Ahly players during a training session (Photo: Ahly's official facebook page)

Ahly's technical staff decided to cancel the team's training Saturday morning amid preparations for Tuesday's league derby against rivals Zamalek after fans' decision to attend the session at the club's headquarters.

Reports in Egyptian media said that security forces banned supporters from entering the club, to avoid clashes.

Ahly recently condemned anti-state chants made 1 February by its supporters during the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the 2012 Port Said disaster.

After the training cancelation, Ahly players secretly trained at the club's headquarters in Sheikh Zayed City in Giza ahead of travelling to Alexandria, where they are scheduled to play the derby at Borg El-Arab Stadium.

However, Zamalek's president Mortada Mansour said Thursday that his team would not play the Cairo derby at Borg El-Arab Stadium. Though the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced Thursday that the derby would take place at Borg El-Arab, Mansour announced that his team will be present at Petro Sport Stadium, as per earlier arrangements.

Following a string of poor results, Ahly asked EFA to move their home games from the narrow Petro Sport Stadium in Cairo to Borg El-Arab, where the club played two games.

Until now, Mansour is still insisting that his team won't travel to play the match in Alexandria.

Ahly sit on top of the league table with 35 points, four ahead of Zamalek after 15 matches.

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