This Is Football – Defeated Koller
Al Ahly coach, Marcel Koller has put the club’s exit from the African Football League down to one plain fact, football. The Red Devils were knocked out of the prestigious tournament by emerging continental giants, Mamelodi Sundowns.
“I understand the disappointment of the fans and players but this football. Sometimes it surprises you. In football you can’t win every match. I won’t win everything all the time,” Koller explained after the 0-0 draw in Cairo which saw Sundowns win 1-0 on aggregate.
Koller saw his team throw attack after attack at the South African club and would have thought all was well when Al Ahly were awarded a penalty. After causing the penalty by fisting Percy Tau in the head, Ronwen Williams spectacularly saved the spotkick. Koller seemed surprised that his players had changed the penalty taker.
Al Ahly set very high standards for their coaches and Koller will feel some heat for this semifinal exit.
“In today’s loss we did everything we could. I have to defend my players and protect them. We only lacked luck,” stressed the Swiss mentor.
Luck certainly deserted Al Ahly when Percy Tau sneaked in behind his former club’s defence only for his shot to cannon off the crossbar. Ronwen Williams’ early fumbling mistakes were not punished, with the ball agonisingly hitting the upright at one point.
Koller and his charges will now turn their attention to defending yet another Egypt Premier League title with the CAF Champions League also waiting to be retained.
