Al Ahly Volleyball Club (), also called "The Masters" () is one of Al Ahly SC club's sections that represent the club in Egypt and in international volleyball competitions. The club's volleyball section has been based in Cairo since 1932. It has played in the Egyptian Volleyball League without interruption since 1957. Al Ahly is the most titled club in the Egyptian Volleyball league with 36 titles. Also, the team has participated in African Clubs Championship since 1980 and won the title 17 times.
Al Ahly has participated in FIVB Club World Championship three times in 2010, 2011 and 2015, the team was qualified in 2003 but the FIVB canceled it. Al Ahly is the only Egyptian team that achieved four trophies in the same season, and the only African team that won the Champions League and Winner's Cup in the same season. In 1981 Al Ahly won the Afro-European volleyball championship, held in Netherlands. Al Ahly is the most titled club in the world with international trophies and 24 titles (here), ahead of famous Russian and Italian clubs. Al Ahly also has the world record for the most consecutive wins without defeat at 102 wins in all competitions. The streak ran from April 5th 2017 to 29 January 29th 2020. Suring this period Al-Ahly achieved 6 titles, Al Ahly also had a local and African record by achieving a record of 56 consecutive wins without defeat from 20 November 2009 until 16 December 2010.
History
From 1932 to the mid 1950s
Al Ahly SC volleyball started in 1932. During this time volleyball was not a popular sport and there weren't many volleyball clubs. Al Ahly SC was one of the pioneer clubs in Egypt that helped introduce volleyball into the Egyptian sports community and helped boost its local popularity. Volleyball was introduced into the Egyptian sports field by the foreign communities, specially those from Mediterranean countries, e.g., Italy and Greece. The 1st club in Egypt to play volleyball was the Al Shobban Al Meseheyin club. This was at the inception of the 1920s era. By 1933, roots of volleyball were cemented within Al Ahly. Al Ahly formed its first volleyball team and started to play some friendly games. E.g., a game against Younan (Greek) club on 1 September 1933. The game ended by 3-1 for Al Ahly. The game was held on Al Ahly ground at Al Gazera. Al Ahly formation for this game was as following; Aziz Fahmy, Ahmed Shoeir. Aziz Barsoum, Mostafa Kamel, Rasmy, and Mokhtar. The second friendly game was played against Al Shobban Al Meseheyin on 3 October 1933, ended by 3-1 for Al Ahly, where the squad was formed of; Aziz Fahmy, Ahmed Shoeir, Aziz Barsom, Mostafa Kamel, Rasmy, and Mokhtar. The game played at Al Ahly ground. The 3rd game in the history of Al Ahly volleyball team, was played against Younan (Greek) club on 18 October 1933. It was a friendly away game on Greek club ground. Al Ahly squad for this game was; Aziz Fahmy, Ahmed Shoeir, Aziz Barsom, Mostafa Kamel, Rasmy, Mokhtar, and Mohamed Fahmy. In 1947, the Egyptian volleyball federation (Which at that time was managing and leading all competitions for both sports volleyball and basketball in Egypt), participated in the formation of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball On 1949, Al Ahly and other 13 clubs contributed in establishing the 1st official committee meeting for the Egyptian volleyball federation who was at that time officially dissociated from the basketball federation, and became a separated independent volleyball federation.
From the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s By the middle of the 1950s, the Egyptian volleyball league was established and during this era, Al Ahly was managed by Ayman Sameh. The squad was composed of the following players: Sayed Mostafa (Captain), Samy Al Sebaey, Yousef Mostafa, Zakaria Morgan, Abdel Khalek Wahba, Maged Mandour. 1966–1967 season was a special one for the team, when the club managed to clinch its first Egyptian volleyball league title ever. The squad was full of talented players who managed to cement their names in Al Ahly volleyball history. Some notable players in this eras squad were: Mohamed Fathi El-Rouby, Amr Elwany, Abdel Kahled Wahba, Adly Mostafa, Abdel Rahman Al Wakil, Fouad Abdel Salam, Nabeh Salah, Ayman Ghozlan, Adel Abdel Maksoud, Tawfiek Shehab, Mohamed Al Sharif, Nezar Al Zein, Eid Abdel Malak, The team was managed by Sayed Mostafa (Ex-team captain), and the coach was Abdel Latif Ibrahim.
From the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s This was one of the most shining parts in Al Ahly volleyball history. The team managed to dominate all competitions. At this era, Al Ahly managed to clinch 9 titles of the Egyptian volleyball league (won 9 out of 10 played). Also, managed to win two Egyptian Volleyball cups. The team also won the African champions league twice; 1980 and 1983. Both of those African titles were after beating the rival Zamalek in the final. On 1981, Al Ahly managed to win Afro-European cup that was held in Netherlands by participation of Champions clubs from France and Netherland. It was a great milestone for Al Ahly volleyball to move its excellence to global level; Europe, not only locally and continentally. During this era; the squad formation was: Nour Attia, Mahmoud Farag, Ibrahim Fakhr Eldin, Ring Lual (Sudanese player), Ihab Fakhr Eldin, Ahmed Zakaria, Shaaban Khalifa, Mohamed Shaarawy, Gomaa Abdel Hamid, Tarik Farid, Mamdouh Ismail, Wagih Hamdy, Ayman Fakhr Eldin, Reda El Ghazali, Ahmed Al Shamoty, Khaled Al Shamoty. Tawfik Shehab and Ihab Fakhr Eldin coach the team in this era.
The mid 1980s to the end of the 20th century This was a reeling era for Al Ahly. This was because of retirement of the best players, in addition to some other administrative issues during the presidency term of Abdo Saleh Al Wahsh (1988-1992). There was a major conflict between the team players and the club administration, led to departure for the most main and reserve players. However, during this era, and until 1993, Al Ahly won 3 Egyptian volleyball league titles, and 3 Egyptian volleyball cups, one Arab Volleyball cup in 1987, two African titles in 1990 (which was held in Egypt on Zamalek SC ground), and in 1991 in Algeria. Both of those African titles were clinched after beating the rival Zamalek in the finals. But by 1994, Al Ahly managed to return to conquer the volleyball fields not only in Egypt, but in Africa as well. Al Ahly won the Egyptian Volleyball league 3 consecutive times, 3 consecutive African league cup, and 3 African cup clubs as well. No African team managed to do such achievement to date like Al Ahly has already made in the 1990s.
1995-96 was astonishing season for Al Ahly. The team managed to win 4 titles in one season for the first time: Egyptian league, Egyptian Cup, African league, African cup. Also, the silver medal for the Arab cup after being beaten in the final against Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia). Al Ahly finished the 20th century adding new two Egyptian league titles, two Egyptian cups, and African title after beating Zamalek in Ethiopia in 2000 in the final as usual. In total, between 1995: 2000, Al Ahly won 5 leagues, 2 cups, 3 African league, 4 African cup. Tally of 14 titles. It worth mentioning that during this period, the Egyptian cup was cancelled several times regarding the national team commitment with some official tournaments. The most notable players during this era were: Emad Farouk, Hisham Abdel Razik, Maged Mostafa, Khaled Abbas, Hany Moselhy, Hamdy El Safy, Mohamed Moselhy, Mohamed Abdel Karim, Mohamoud Gomaa, Sameh Ali Kamel, Ayman Roshdy, Hisham Salah, Yasin Amin, Mohamed Abdel Rahman, Wael El Aydi.
From 2001: Current This era started with little bit fluctuating. Al Ahly lost the local league for the first time after years, withdrawn twice from the cup as it was played without the international players; while there was 7 players and the team coach involved in the national team at that time. Al Ahly lost the African league title as well in 2001 in Cairo against Etoile Sahel Tunisia. But quickly, Al Ahly managed to return to seize the volleyball competitions in Egypt, Africa, and the middle east. Al Ahly won the league 3 times, the cup 3 times, and two consecutive Arab cup titles, and two consecutive African titles after beating the Tunisian team Qulaybi in the final, both times in Egypt and Algeria. In 2002–03 season, Al Ahly won 4 titles again after clinching the league, cup, Arab cup, and African league. By 2005–06, Al Ahly repeated the same brilliant performance by winning the same 4 titles in one season.
This was so evident, how was Al Ahly so strong in this era. By end of 2005–06 season, the player maker Abdalla Abdel Salam left the club to join the Italian side Treviso. This contributed later in losing the league in 2008, and the cup in 2009, two African finals, and one Arab cup final as well by 2009.
Al Ahly, the club of century for Volleyball in Egypt and Africa, quickly progressed and by season 2009-10 managed to make a historic season by winning 4 titles again in one season: League, Cup, Arab cup, and African league. In this season, the team played 54 games, won 53 times, and only losing one game in the preliminary local league stage. So, Al Ahly won 4 volleyball titles in the same season 4 times: 1995–96, 2002–03, 2005–06, and 2009–10. The only Egyptian and African team to attain such amazing record. After the end of the last-mentioned season, Hamdi El Safy retired, Abdallah Abdel Salam and Ahmed Salah transferred to Europe, Wael El Aydi moved to the rival Zamalek. All of those factors led to give the opportunity for new and youth players such as: Ahmed Kotb, Hossam Youssef, Abdel Halim Ebo, Ahmed Abdel Aal, Mohamed Moawad, Ahmed Saied. Between 2015 and 2017, because of dispute with the club sports administration, some of the team players left the club and moved to Army SC. Army SC at that time looked to be like Al Ahly second team (Al Ahly B), and for 3 years, they managed to win 2 leagues, 2 cups, and 1 African title in 2016. Those players were; Ahmed Salah, Abdallah Abdel Salam, Mohamed Al Hosseiny, Omar Naguib, Mamdouh Abdel Karim, Mahmoud Raouf, Mahmoud El Komy. Al Ahly failed to win the league for three times in row. The same for the Egyptian cup. However, Al Ahly won the African titles twice during this period, in 2015 and 2017 in Tunisia. By 2017–18 season, Al Ahly back to the good performance and managed to win three titles in one season: League, Cup, African titles. This was without losing any game during the whole season. Tally of Al Ahly titles during this era, from 2002 to 2018 was 11 league titles, 12 Egyptian cup, 8 African titles, and 4 Arab cups. This was enough to consider this era as the best across Al Ahly volleyball history. Al Ahly also during this era has participated in the World cup clubs three times; 2010, 2011 and 2015. The most notable players in this era (2000 to 2010) were : Ahmed Salah, Abdallah Abdel Salam, Mohamed El Sayed, Hamdy El Safy, Mohamed Moselhy, Osama Komsan, Hossam Shaarway, Maged Mostafa, Mohamed Abdel Rahman, Wael ElAydi, Mahmoud Raouf. (2010: Current) Ahmed Kotb, Hossam Youssef, Abdel Halim Ebo, Ahmed Abdel Aal, Ahmed Saied, Mohamed Adel Dola, Mohamed Moawad.
Most consecutive volleyball victories in all competitions
Beside the total domination of Al Ahly over Africa and being the most crowned club with international trophies all over the world Al Ahly also own the most winning streak known on the volleyball history Al Ahly is having a 102 win on the row recording a no lose streak for the last 3 years until 29 January 2020 This chain has started on 5 April 2017, During this unbelievable record Al Ahly has been titled with the Egyptian League 2 times, Egyptian Cup 2 times and African Club Championship 2 times During this chain also Al Ahly has won 18 successive matches with the result 3–0 without losing any set The total sets won during this streak are 303 sets while losing only 20