The coach and players of Ahly have expressed praise and gratitude for their skipper Hossam Ghaly in a press conference held in the UAE one day before his retirement ceremony. Ahly are playing the Netherlands' Ajax Amsterdam in the city of Al-Ain on Friday, which will be the last game for the longtime club hero. "I will go home after Ajax's retirement game and I will be away from anything related to football," the 36-year-old midfielder stated during the presser, decisively eliminating any possibility of him playing more games. "I am waiting to see the great Ahly fans at the game," Ghaly added. Ghaly, who won three Egyptian league titles, two Egyptian Cup titles and two African Champions League titles with Ahly, also recalled memories of his successful journey in Europe with Feyenoord, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County and Lierse, before settling down at his boyhood club in 2014. "Ghaly deserves this well-organised ceremony. He is one of the club's icons. I have known him since he was a little kid. He is one of the best to wear the Ahly jersey," said Ahly coach Hossam El-Badry. El-Badry, who led the praising speeches for the forward by both Ahly and Ajax players, said the game against Ajax will also be good preparation for the team ahead of important matches in the African Champions League group stages. Ahly are the record holders with eight trophies, though they have only collected a single point, the same as Tunisia's Esperance. Both teams are behind group leaders Botswana's Township Rollers. Ahly is playing Kampala City FC in Uganda on 15 May. The team is ending a record-breaking Egyptian Premier League season victory, but has waved goodbye to the Egypt Cup after a surprising loss against Assiouty Sport. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
