Striker speaks candidly about expectations, fan demands and early struggles in Cairo
New Al Ahly striker Yelsin Kamwish has described the demanding nature of life at the club, highlighting the intensity of fan expectations, a packed match schedule and the personal challenges of settling in Cairo.
Kamwish joined Al Ahly during the winter transfer window on a six-month loan from Norwegian side Tromsø. Since his arrival, he has made seven appearances, playing a total of 189 minutes, but is yet to register a goal or an assist.
Speaking on the “4 Cantos do Mundo” podcast, the forward acknowledged the scale of the club and the unique pressures that come with representing one of Africa’s most successful teams.
“It hasn’t been easy”
Kamwish said: “Al Ahly is a very big club; in terms of resources, there aren’t many clubs in Portugal that can offer what it offers.”
He added: “In fact, apart from the four biggest teams in Portugal, none of the other clubs come close to his level. I think I can offer more here at the club. It may take a month or two for people to see the real Yelsin, however I think that after that I will be able to open more doors.”
Reflecting on his early experience, he admitted: “I won’t say that Al Ahly’s experience was one of the easiest experiences, because the club itself relies heavily on the media and expects a lot from any player who comes here. My experience wasn’t easy because I was in Tromsø and we were in the preseason period and I only trained for two weeks before coming here.”
Adjusting to life in Cairo
Away from the pitch, Kamwish described the challenges of adapting to daily life in Egypt, revealing that he is still living in a hotel in central Cairo.
“I am still staying in a hotel here in Egypt, and not a single day goes by that I leave my room without encountering hotel staff, guests, and people who know me and call me by name, want to take pictures with me, and offer me words of encouragement. So far, I haven’t gone out much to the streets of Cairo.”
He added: “I am now in a hotel in the city center, which is a hotel frequented by foreigners, although they do not usually come here. It is not only bad things, but there are good things too, and interacting with people is the most entertaining thing.”
Intense schedule and limited preparation time
Kamwish also pointed to the difficulty of adapting quickly due to the team’s demanding schedule.
“Al Ahly had already completed half of the tournament and they had many matches during the weeks, and I didn’t have enough time to train, get to know my teammates well and settle in. It depends more on a day of rest and a day or two of training and then going to the match. I think I’m here and I think it will take a month, and I still need a full week of training.”
He continued: “The rest of the time is travel, matches and recovery and that makes adapting a little more difficult, because the most important thing for me is for my teammates to get to know me and for me to get to know them and I know that from that moment things flourish more, but that’s all. The club is huge and always receives a lot of attention, whether from the media or from the fans, and there is a lot of communication with the fans even through social media. It has been positive, even if it has not been easy.”
Facing the pressure of passionate supporters
The striker emphasised the scale of support at Al Ahly, particularly during African Champions League fixtures.
“I have played six matches so far, and in the African Champions League matches, which are matches in a stadium that can hold 75,000 spectators, 70,000 people attend and sing throughout the match, which are things I have never witnessed before. They are passionate about football, and this is a positive thing. They are fans who support the club, but they are also fans who like to feel that the players are there to sacrifice their lives for the team and the club. Even convincing the fans that you are also there to sacrifice your life and that you are one of them is not easy.”
He added: “Here at Al Ahly, from the moment you don’t win a match or from the moment you don’t perform well, it will take at least a week or two, and the media will talk about it, as will the fans, and they will interact with you and send you messages. Whereas in the Scandinavian countries, this never happened to me. Everything was in your favor, and in the end, you feel less pressure. That is the most accurate description: less pressure.”
Embracing expectations despite challenges
Despite the intensity, Kamwish suggested he is willing to embrace the demands placed upon him.
“I like to have more pressure than is required to win. I like this pressure, but we can’t get used to it. After I went to Scandinavia and ended up there, I will play and do my best, but I am relaxed and calm. But here in Egypt, things change again, and you have to know that you have to win, and that’s what they want here.”
His comments underline the stark contrast between football environments and highlight the adjustment required to succeed at a club where expectations remain consistently high.
