The first Arab women's football championship kicked off yesterday in Alexandria A 10-day Arab women's soccer tournament being played in Alexandria is the first tournament of its kind. Organisers hope it will not be the last. Ghada Abd El-Kader assesses Egypt's chances. Lebanon was scheduled to meet Algeria in Group B yesterday. However, the official opening ceremony takes place this afternoon when Group A clashes begin with Syria meeting Palestine and Egypt taking on Tunisia in the second match of the day. The teams were divided into Group A which includes Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Palestine while Group B comprises Algeria, Morocco and Lebanon. The draw, held at the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) a week before kick-off, was attended by EFA President Samir Zaher, the wife of German Ambassador Wagener Matthias, member of the FIFA women's committee Sahar El-Hawari, head of the Goethe Institute in Cairo Johannes Ebert, and member of the Arab Football Union (UAFA) Kamal Suleiman. Also among the spectators was former German head coach Tina Theune--Meyer. Theune--Meyer and the German club TSV Ludwigsburg came to Egypt under the motto: "The language of the world is football" which aims at promoting a cultural relationship between Egypt and Germany "and to prove that communication between two different cultures is not only by reading or cultural institutions but also through football," Wagener said. With Theune--Meyer at the help, Germany won six European championships, the 2003 World Cup and UEFA Championship in 2005. After retiring, her assistant Silvia Neid took over. Suleiman said the tournament came to light because of El-Hawari. "She made great efforts in forming the Egyptian team, the first in the Arab region. She helped spread the game to the rest of the region and after forming a women's committee at the UAFA, she persuaded officials to organise an official tournament." "The Arab federation is very interested in promoting the women's game in the region. Three months ago, the UAFA held a training course for women referees in order to select the best for this tournament," El-Hawari said. El-Hawari, who is head of tournament's organising committee, predicted North African Arabs will reach the semi-finals. "Women's football is stronger in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. The Maghreb nations are more experienced than their counterparts in Asia who are beginners in the game. "However, Asian Arabs have shown great progress and are planning correctly for the future of their game." During their visit, the Germans played two friendly matches, drawing with Alexandria 1-1 in Alexandria and losing 2-1 to Egypt in Heliopolis club. Meyer also held a joint training session between Egypt and the TSV Ludwigsburg in the AC Milan Club in Cairo. El-Hawari, head of the EFA women's football committee, said the UAFA had decided the event should be bi-annual. Egyptian national team player Yasmine El-Gammal said she was thrilled by the event. "I love football and I wish this tournament will make the women's game in the near future as popular as the men's."
