Coronavirus: René Weiler is stuck in hotel rooms

17 games, 16 wins and lastly a draw. René Weiler has made a phenomenal series with the top Egyptian club Al Ahly in the championship and in the African Champions League.

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But now the lights have gone out in the 25 million metropolis of Cairo. The championship has been interrupted and training has ceased. And Weiler sits in his hotel room and waits for things. «The hotel has 400 rooms. But we are still around ten people in the breakfast room. Some stranded managers and I, »says Weiler.

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Far from the family at home in Switzerland and with the gnawing uncertainty in the hotel room. Doesn’t the blanket fall on your head? “No. It has become incredibly quiet in Cairo. And from 7 p.m. there is a curfew. But I have a gym here, I work on my laptop, I read a lot and I communicate with people. No, I don’t get bored. There are worse fates, »says Weiler.

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Of course, the standstill in sport and also in Egyptian football stops an unprecedented phase of success. Al Ahly dominates the championship at will, winning the title is a matter of form. If the championship ends. And also in the Champions League Al Ahly success after success and is in the semi-final. No coach in the history of this huge club has started a season so successfully.

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Is he the new pharaoh from Cairo? Is it carried through the city with the mustard? “Oh, what,” says Weiler. «Clearly you can feel the enthusiasm and also the support in the club. But the euphoria moves me less. And with this corona crisis, football has also moved into the background. »

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But it is clear that Weiler has created a lot of goodwill for the future. This is extremely important in a country where patience is not a core virtue. Of the 18 clubs, 14 have already changed coaches this season. Hire and Fire belongs to the Egyptian league. Al Ahly has also had two to three different coaches every season in recent years.

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But now patience is required for him too. He would have flown home to his family in Switzerland during the international break. That is not possible right now. «Everything stopped until April 4th. There will be further meetings on Sunday, and we will discuss how things will go in the medium term, »says Weiler. He has no choice but to wait. And to hope that you may continue playing without an audience. «It is not about whether we win the title or not. But if all players are healthy, football could give hope and distraction in these difficult times, ”said Weiler.

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Otherwise, he also knows that he will sit behind his laptop in the hotel room for quite a while. «Then I make the best of the situation. I don’t lack optimism. »

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