CAIRO: Ahly s football committee has decided that the football team will depart to Japan to participate in the FIFA World Club Cup on Dec. 5. The timing will be one week ahead of the competition s launch, as Ahly look to adapt with the Japanese climate and surroundings before their first game against Pachuca of Mexico on Dec. 13. In a related issue, Ahly officials have asked the Egyptian embassy in Mexico to facilitate obtaining video footages of some Pachuca games. The Red Devils official website stated that the team s technical staff wants to collect as much information as possible about the CONCACAF champions. Meanwhile, Ahly boss Manuel Jose urged club fans to be reasonable in their ambitions when the Reds take part in the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup next month. The African champions made it to Japan for the third time in four years, but Jose remains calm in effect to the high expectations of fans. People must know that the level of football in Europe and South America is totally different from Africa, the Portuguese told Ahly TV. Our fans must be reasonable with their ambitions, because too many expectations could prove negative to the team. Ahly disappointed in Japan 2005, but the six-time African champions excelled in the 2006 edition when they came third after marginally losing to then-champions International in the semis. When we went to Japan for the first time in 2005, fans wanted us to win the title, but we finished bottom, Jose added. But in 2006, we perceived the competition more realistically, and eventually we had a fine tournament.
