Hussein Ammouta has stepped up preparations at Al-Ahly during the international break, with the Moroccan coach planning an intensive training programme and two friendly matches before the return to competitive action.
Al-Ahly resumed training on Monday evening at the Mokhtar El Tetsh Stadium in Gezira after the players were given four days off during the international break.
The coaching staff have now decided to increase the workload, with the squad scheduled to train twice a day from Tuesday for a full week.
The programme is designed to improve the players’ physical condition while also allowing the technical staff to assess their readiness ahead of the resumption of official matches.
Ammouta returned to Cairo on Monday after completing some personal commitments and is expected to take charge of training from Tuesday.
The first session after the players’ break was overseen by the assistant coaching staff, but Ammouta will lead the next stage of preparations himself.
The Moroccan coach is particularly focused on ensuring that his players reach the required level of physical and technical readiness before the team’s return to competitive football.
Al-Ahly’s preparations will include two friendly matches during the break, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to assess the squad under match conditions.
The first is scheduled against Libyan side Al-Hilal on 30 September, while the second will see Al-Ahly face Misr El-Maqassa on 3 October.
Wael Gomaa, Al-Ahly’s football director, confirmed that the two matches have been provisionally arranged as part of the team’s preparations for the return to official competition.
The club could yet add another friendly to the schedule. A final decision on whether Ammouta wants a third match is expected in the coming hours.
The two confirmed fixtures will also allow the coaching staff to distribute playing time among a large number of players.
Particular attention will be given to those who have not featured regularly enough during the previous period, with the matches providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness.
The coaching staff will use the friendlies to examine both the physical condition and technical level of the players before the team returns to competitive action.
Al-Ahly’s preparations are being conducted with the Egyptian League summit against Zamalek on 11 October in mind.
The increased training load and planned matches are therefore intended to ensure the squad is properly prepared when official competition resumes.
For Ammouta, the international break provides time to work intensively with his players, address their physical needs and give those with fewer minutes an opportunity to compete.
The coming days will reveal whether Al-Ahly add another friendly to their schedule, but the immediate plan is clear: two-a-day training sessions followed by matches against Al-Hilal of Libya and Misr El-Maqassa before the return to competitive football.
