The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

The world’s most popular sport is, as the
saying goes, a gentleman’s game played by thugs, but even Egyptian clubs are
jumping on the branding bandwagon. Like most of the top European clubs, Cairo
giants Al Ahly established their own official TV channel, and so it was only a
matter of time before they opened an official merchandise shop in Mohandiseen, where proprietors of disposable income like to roam.

The shop is technically on Mohi El Din Abul
Ezz Street, but it’s right at the end of the street slap bang at the point
where the street meets El Madina El Manawara.

As Al Ahy’s kit manufacturer, Adidas
produces all the sports gear, and the official kit can be purchased here for a
very reasonable price. Two versions of the official shirt are available; the
replica shirt, and the actual shirt that the players wear. Although the shop’s staff
insists that there’s no real difference, the replica version lacks the
aerodynamic mesh panel technologies that the ‘real’ kits do. In short,
the ‘real’ shirts have these small holes speckled in certain parts that help
with the ventilation; a highly welcome feature of any garment in the current
weather. The replica shirt costs 129LE, while the real thing is 250LE. This
actually works out incredibly cheap compared to European team shirts, many of
which are also produced by Adidas and can reach up to 500LE and more.

A range of t-shirts is available as casual
wear for between 80LE and 110LE. The designs range from classic imagery of the
club emblem and Arabic calligraphy to the more modern ‘Red Zone’ line,
celebrating both past and present stars in modern mural-style designs.  

The ‘Eagle’ range of polo shirts cost
between 130LE and 180LE. As the adopted symbol taken from the club emblem, the
Eagle range is an attempt at a breakaway line of casual wear. The polos are of
a decent cotton quality, and their designs imitate the minimalist polo styles
of Fred Perry and Lyle & Scott. They are available in a range of colours,
with plain and horizontal stripes designs available.  

The Ahly 365 range covers most of the
non-apparel products in stock. Key rings will cost you no more than 16LE, while
a selection of quality notebooks range between 8LE and 25LE. Scarves sporting
the Al Ahly name and emblem are priced at around 50LE.

There are no tricks with this shop, no
clever marketing or ploys. It’s exactly what it says it is, and is by far the
best shop to grab everything Al Ahly-related. It’s a haven for fans, and people
who look good in red.