Giant Al-Ahly wants to lead the youth

The festive season provided many with a well-deserved rest and break.

High-ranking soccer club, Al-Ahly did not allow this period to interfere with the team’s love for their sport.

Over the past month, Al-Ahly has participated in three tournaments around the country, winning two quite convincingly.

Playing in Bethlehem for the fifth time, on December 6 and 7, Al-Ahly managed to comfortably brush aside opponents while using a disadvantaged side.

“We were playing away from home, which is always harder. Secondly, the tournament was 10-a-side, with four substitutions. Due to complications before the tournament, we only had eight players,” explained Al-Ahly coach and captain, Faheem Paruk.

Against all odds, Al-Ahly still managed to put on a stellar performance, beating opponents with ease to first top the log in the 17 team strong group stages.

Al-Ahly thereafter went on to take the entire tournament, which was truly a spectacle.

“Riding on the back of this victory, we played in the ABSA Soccer Tournament the following weekend.”

This momentum, coupled with the undeniable chemistry and cool flow of consistency within the team, allowed the Al-Ahly side to confidently walk away with a second piece of silverware.

In Al-Ahly’s third tournament of the month, the team once again fell prey to unfortunate circumstances and could not field their proper side that could have been the defining factor in the team bowing out of the competition early on.

“During the festive and year-end period, it’s hard to get all of the guys together, which is why only our senior side participated in these tournaments,” justified Mr Paruk

During the past two weeks the side has been on a rest period.

“We have been preparing for the year ahead. When the club first began, its vision was always to create a sporting family. We wanted to have a connection to the community.”

With this in mind Al-Ahly began a youth development campaign.

The youth have always been and will always be welcome to join this programme, explained Mr Paruk. He believed currently the players in the academy were probably the most developed players he had seen outside of a major city or training centre.

“We are proud of our youth. So proud in fact that we refuse to show it. We believe one of the keys to a successful player is humbleness, which is why we acknowledge their improvements but don’t shower them with praises,” he said.

Going forward, Mr Paruk believed the youth still needed a lot of attention.

A proposed development camp using professional coaches and PSL team contacts is currently under development by the club, which could possibly change the face of soccer in Newcastle.

“We want to help our youth, so we are looking at creating a structure that does not only guarantee placement and game-time within major clubs, but also scholarships and incentives for the players. We want to create a soccer force in Newcastle. We want our guys to have ‘Muhabah’ (Love) and character when they take to the field.”

This plan is still being ironed out, but it could find fruition within the next two years.

“For now we are just excited for the season again. We just want to play ‘ball’. Be it with the young future stars, or the old Maradona and Pele lovers.”