Many Al-Ahly players chose not to bid farewell to Swiss coach Marcel Koller after his official dismissal was announced on Saturday evening.
Following the team’s elimination from the CAF Champions League semi-finals by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Al-Ahly released a formal statement thanking Koller for his time with the club.
However, several key players, including Mohamed Magdy “Afsha,” Hussein El-Shahat, goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, Omar Kamal, and Moroccan Achraf Bencharki, refrained from posting farewell messages to the coach.
The strained relationship between Koller and some of Al-Ahly’s stars had become evident in recent weeks, particularly due to the coach’s frequent decision to leave them out of the starting lineup.
On the other hand, a number of players were eager to express their appreciation for Koller.
Defender Rami Rabia shared his thanks, writing: “Thank you, coach, and I wish you success,” while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir expressed gratitude for the opportunity to train under him.
Imam Ashour thanked Koller for pushing him to excel, acknowledging his continuous support and trust in his abilities.
Other players, including Akram Tawfik and Wissam Abu Ali, also posted messages of thanks, expressing appreciation for Koller’s confidence in them since his arrival.
Mustafa Al-Ash, Karim Al-Dabis, Mohamed Hani, and Marawan Attia also shared heartfelt messages, bidding farewell to the Swiss coach on their social media accounts.
