Day 3 - Match Day

Hola Makhosi’s

The big day has come and the Amakhosi are ready!

My update today is going to be a short one because the team is preparing mentally and are focusing on the game and I am personally quite nervous but confident at the same time. So let me begin...

Yesterday the team trained at the Cairo International Stadium where the game is going to be held today; the stadium is huge, it seats 130 thousand people!

Media and the Al Ahly assistant coach were also there attending our training session. The training session was very simple and nothing tactical was done but it was a pleasure to watch, Jabu “Shuffle” Pule was on fire!!

The team looks good, the spirit is high and the are super focused! Especially after the chairman briefed them on the R1 Million incentive that the club has offered the team to win this morning.

The boys are resting now, they didn’t have a training session this morning, they just did a little stretching. Its 15h00 now and they are all focusing on the game in their rooms. We are leaving for the stadium at 17h00.

The tickets are not sold out as we had expected, about 50 thousand tickets have been sold at 13h00 today and Al Ahly say that they are expecting max 60 thousand people. Which is no big deal for us, because as you all know the Glamour boys play much better quality soccer when the stadium is full.

This morning Kaizer, Mr Molatedi, Putco, Abdulla and I visited the Al Ahly headquarters called the ‘Al Ahly Sporting Club’. It’s one of three recreational centre in Cairo where adults or families can go with their children and allow them to practice all kinds of sports (tennis, basket, volley ball, soccer, swimming etc); it’s really a nice and professional set up.

We met all the directors of the club and we exchanged gifts/memorabilia. The Al Ahly management and Board of Directors are very humble and friendly people, there is a lot we can learn from each other. We hope & believe that this will be only the beginning of better things to come between Kaizer Chiefs and Al Ahly.

The running order of events today will include a curtain raiser featuring the Al Ahly development teams between 17h00 – 18h00 and then the main game will kick-off at 20h00.

I know that the big screen at Bez Park is already pumping and that the party has already started. Amakhosi we really appreciate the support and would also like to thank all the supporters and friends that have sent us good luck messages and faxes.

The KC office has forwarded us about 200 good luck messages, thank you so much, we won’t let you down. It’s reassuring to know that you are all supporting us back home, thank you once again.

The boys and officials here are moved by this support and they know that the only way to thank you is to make our country proud and to bring the trophy home.

AMAKHOSI 4 LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KC Online Correspondent


Vivian Casaletti