Al Ahly are stepping up efforts to develop their youth academy, with the Egyptian club aiming to produce more homegrown players for the first team and create opportunities for promising talents to pursue careers in Europe, following the example of Hamza Abdel Karim at Barcelona.
A source at Al Ahly told WinWin that the club’s football management has drawn up a comprehensive strategy focused on improving youth development, increasing the number of academy graduates in the senior squad and reducing the need to recruit players from outside the club.
The plan also seeks to prepare talented youngsters for the demands of European football, with the experience of Abdel Karim serving as a model for the club’s ambitions.
The source said the initiative goes beyond coaching and player development, extending to improvements in facilities and support systems. Al Ahly believe these measures could strengthen the club’s international standing while creating additional financial benefits for its football operations.
Al Ahly upgrade youth facilities in Nasr City
The club’s efforts to improve its youth system began several years ago, with investment in infrastructure running alongside work to improve players’ technical, physical and educational development.
According to the source, renovations have included replacing the playing surfaces on the youth team’s training pitches at the club’s Nasr City headquarters.
The changing rooms and stands have also been developed, while lighting has been installed to improve conditions for training sessions and matches involving the different age groups.
The improvements are intended to provide young players with a better environment in which to develop and prepare for the possibility of progressing to the senior team.
Foreign specialists brought in to improve development
Al Ahly have also strengthened their youth coaching structure by bringing in foreign expertise during the current season.
Dutchman Nico Hack has been appointed technical director of the youth sector, while German coach Markus has taken responsibility for training the youth team. German fitness specialist Jonas Pascal has also joined the setup to oversee physical conditioning.
The club’s approach includes more than football training, with greater attention being given to players’ psychological well-being, nutrition and education.
A nutritionist and a psychologist have been brought into the programme, while the club is also monitoring the youngsters’ academic progress.
Al Ahly hope this broader approach will help produce players who are technically prepared for professional football and equipped to handle its physical, mental and personal demands.
The long-term objective is to increase the number of academy players who make the transition to the first team while giving the most promising talents a pathway towards European football.
The club also expects the strategy to deliver benefits beyond the pitch, with successful player development potentially providing both sporting and financial returns.
In a related development, Al Ahly’s under-19 side, made up of players born in 2007, defeated their Zamalek counterparts 1-0 on Sunday in the Republic Youth Championship.
The result provided another meeting between the Cairo rivals at youth level as Al Ahly continue their efforts to strengthen the development system from within.
