Al-Sisi reviews Egypt's food security, strategic commodity reserves    Egypt signs strategic agreements to attract global investment in gold, mineral exploration    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Egyptian Exchange ends mixed on July 15    Suez Canal vehicle carrier traffic set to rebound by 20% in H2: SCA chief    Tut Group launches its operations in Egyptian market for exporting Egyptian products    China's urban jobless rate eases in June '25    Egypt's Health Minister reviews drug authority cooperation with WHO    Egypt urges EU support for Gaza ceasefire, reconstruction at Brussels talks    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



High-flying Atletico Madrid inspired by terror victim
Published in Ahram Online on 21 - 04 - 2014

If Atletico Madrid crown a remarkable season by winning La Liga, coach Diego Simeone and his players may remember March 29 and their 2-1 comeback victory at Athletic Bilbao as the moment they truly started to believe.
The match at fourth-placed Bilbao's daunting San Mames arena was seen as one of Atletico's toughest of the season finale and failure would have severely dented their chances of beating Barcelona and Real Madrid to the title.
As part of their preparations for the crunch game in the Basque Country, Simeone decided to call in some outside help and invited a woman to speak to the players at the team hotel a few hours before kick-off who knows from the bitterest personal experience what it takes to triumph in adversity.
Irene Villa and her mother Maria, who worked for the Spanish police, were driving to school in Madrid in October 1991 when a bomb planted by Basque separatist group ETA exploded under their car. Irene, then aged 12, lost both her legs and three fingers of one hand and her mother a leg and an arm.
Now 35, married to Simeone's Argentine compatriot Juan Pablo Lauro and mother to an infant son, Irene has recovered from the trauma of the attack to carve out a successful career as a life coach and journalist.
She is also a Spanish para-alpine skiing champion and successful author whose latest book "It's never too late, princess" tells the story of six characters dealing with challenges such as disability, drug addiction and cancer.
"Simeone wanted to continue transmitting strength, motivation and dedication to his team," Villa said in an interview with Reuters as Atletico prepare to host Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.
"I think my story and my message were able to achieve all that," she added, describing herself as "happy, extrovert and someone who enjoys life to the full".
"It was an extra push for a team which is showing that there are no limits and that they know it can be done."
Speaking Volumes
Villa said she tried to communicate in her 40-minute presentation the importance of fighting, never giving up and having the confidence to know you can be the best.
"I told them the story of my (skiing) team ... of the difficulties of all kinds that we encountered at the start.
"And how after serious injuries and tumbles but with a lot of determination, training and preparation we achieved podium finishes even outside Spain.
"The reaction (of the Atletico players) was incredible. Their faces spoke volumes.
"A silence like the grave and then hugs and congratulations. They went away amazed."
After leaving the hotel and heading across town to Bilbao's stadium, where Barcelona lost 1-0 and Real Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw this season, Atletico fell behind in the sixth minute but hit back through top scorer Diego Costa in the 22nd.
Midfielder Koke struck the winner 10 minutes into the second half and Atletico have won their subsequent three matches, putting them in a strong position to claim their first La Liga title since 1996 when a team featuring Simeone in midfield won a domestic league and Cup double.
"The match was very emotional, one of the best of the season," Villa said.
"They were unbeatable! It is very motivating although of course the merit is all for Simeone and his players."
Few would have given Atletico the remotest chance of challenging wealthy Real and Barca for the La Liga title this season but Simeone has turned his unfancied squad into genuine contenders in Spain and Europe.
He told reporters recently he had asked Villa to speak to the players and coaching staff because her values were very similar to his own.
"We invited her simply so that she could tell us the story of her life, so we could see the realities," he said.
"It really did us a tremendous amount of good, we felt very comfortable and we have one more friend now at Atletico."
Difficult Situations
Atletico's Brazil left back Filipe Luis, who tweeted a picture of himself holding Villa's book this month, said it had been a long time since anything had affected him emotionally quite as much.
"Personally I have been through difficult situations that are not even a tenth of what this fighter has been through," he said.
"You can look at life in two ways. And the example she gives of looking at it positively and optimistically is incredible."
Atletico will be assured of the La Liga title if they win three of their remaining four matches and are within touching distance of a first European crown.
If they pull off what would be a stunning achievement in either competition, one person they will be toasting at the traditional celebrations in central Madrid will be the inspirational Irene Villa.
(For more sports news and updates,followAhramOnline Sportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand on Facebook atAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/99502.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.