New Dawn at Al Ahly: Thorup Delays Debut Training as Staff Assemble and Injuries Jostle the Red Castle

New Dawn at Al Ahly: Thorup Delays Debut Training

Danish coach Jes Thorup, the newly named head coach of Al Ahly’s first team, asked for a 48-hour postponement of his first training session after his official unveiling to the media on Friday, as part of a two-and-a-half-year deal. The delay comes amid plans to finalize his coaching staff and align with the club’s strategy before any whistle blows.

Thorup landed in Cairo on Thursday evening and held lengthy talks with club president Mahmoud El Khatib and the planning committee before stepping into a public press conference to present himself to fans and reporters alike.

A club source told KOOORA that the request to push the workout to Sunday instead of Friday was mainly due to the late arrival of his assisting team, not a mood for a cold start on the pitch.

The Dane reportedly faces a real hurdle in shaping his technical crew, since the assistants he wanted to bring with him are currently tied up with other clubs, delaying their immediate availability.

He is coordinating with his agent to finalize deals with a group of new assistants who are expected to arrive in Cairo within hours. Five members of his staff have already had travel tickets booked for tomorrow, with Thorup slated to lead practice Sunday evening.

Source: Thorup’s wife arrived in Cairo early Saturday to join him on this new chapter in Egypt, where the coach is lodging in a Cairo hotel before moving into a villa arranged by Al Ahly near the club’s quarters at a resort.

Message to Al Ahly Fans

Thorup sent a personal note to Al Ahly supporters after signing, saying: “I’m here now… looking forward to meeting you all, and together we will achieve many wonderful results.” He added that it is a great pride to coach a club of Al Ahly’s stature and that he understands the team’s value and history, stressing that his mission is to win and to safeguard the rich legacy of the great club.

He also noted that he has followed several recent Al Ahly games, from the Club World Cup appearance to domestic league fixtures, having analyzed performance closely to identify areas for improvement once he officially takes charge.

“I watched Al Ahly at the Club World Cup; the team gave a lot of effort even though the result wasn’t ideal. Now I am here to work toward objectives and titles,” he said. “I’ve received many offers recently, but coaching Al Ahly is a different and exciting challenge.”

Contract Details

Al Ahly officially announced Thorup’s appointment for two and a half years, with a monthly salary of 250,000 euros for him and his five assistants, covering roles such as general coach, fitness coach, goalkeeping coach, performance analyst, and a foreign administrative staff member.

Adil Mustafa will remain on the new technical staff, while the club thanked interim coach Emad El Nahhas for his stint, noting that the latter declined a continuing role within the academy as an assistant technical director.

Injury Updates and Squad Status

In a separate update, the squad’s medical staff confirmed several injuries that will keep key players out for a spell, including Hussein El Shahat and Ashraf Dari ahead of the Egyptian Super Cup in the UAE on October 6.

Shahat’s scans revealed a hamstring tear, sidestepping at least seven weeks of action, with a intensive rehabilitation program under medical supervision.

Ashraf Dari suffered a fresh injury—a lower abdominal muscle tear (sports hernia)—with additional tests planned to determine the proper treatment and recovery time.

Meanwhile, Imam Ashour is steadily improving and undergoing periodic analyses to monitor treatment response, with a planned return to group training soon.

Karem Fouad is continuing his rehabilitation for the front thigh injury, with new tests expected early next week to pin down a return date to training.

Additionally, doctors noted that Ahmed Reda felt knee pain during training and is undergoing tests to prepare him for a return after the international window closes.

Upcoming Burundi Mission

The first-team squad is scheduled to travel to Burundi next week by private flight to face Eagle Noir in the CAF Champions League’s Round of 32 first leg, with final travel dates between October 15 and 16 to suit preparation needs.

Eagle Noir had advanced past Telecommunication du Djibouti in the preliminaries, setting up what is described as the most significant tie in the club’s recent history.

With Thorup officially in charge, fans anticipate a fresh project bearing the Danish coach’s German-inspired ideas and a strong desire to leave a clear mark at the island fortress of Al Ahly.

And yes, if training is delayed again, at least the team will have extra time to warm up their excuses before kickoff. If hard work were a snack, Al Ahly just ordered a full buffet. And if the buffet runs late, breakfast at the press conference is on the house—hope you brought your appetite and your questions.