Conrad Hotel- Ahmed Maher & Shady Amir: FIFA held on Monday the "Team Media Day" for African champions Ahli who qualified for the 2006 Club World Cup (CWC) in Japan. Nicolas Maingot, Head of Media for the 2006 CWC, presented Ahli president Hassan Hamdi with a 'diploma of participation' in this year's tournament in a press conference at the Conrad Hotel in Cairo. The event was attended by Ahli coach Manuel Jose, captain Shadi Mohamed, Egyptian FA president Samir Zaher, CAF secretary-general Mostafa Fahmy, in addition to Hamdi and all of the club's board. The media day started with a presentation celebrating the six teams that qualified for the CWC that will take place in Tokyo, Toyota and Yokohama between December 10th and 17th. Maingot dished out praise for the Egyptian giants who "made history by becoming the first team to qualify for the CWC twice in a row". Hamdi and Zaher also expressed their excitement over Ahli's great achievement. Meanwhile, Shadi Mohamed also said that he and his teammates are looking forward to the CWC. "Our determination to make a strong impact in Japan this year is very strong," he said.
Ahli finished last in the first edition in 2005 after losing to Ittihad Jeddah and FC Sydney. "There were a lot of setbacks in last year's campaign, but we have learned from our mistakes and will do our best to do better this year," Mohamed added. Coach Jose echoed his skipper's sentiment. "The pressure was on last year to the extent that killed the team," the Portuguese manager said. "I just want them to relax and do their best this year, because regardless of the situation, we always go for the win." Regarding the issue of hosting the CWC that Ahli had raised with FIFA previously Maingot said: "All clubs will be able to apply for hosting the 2008 CWC." Maingot explained that Japan has the rights to hosting the tournament until 2007 and that FIFA will make it open for all countries after that.
