Boy wonder

Teenage sensation Ahmed Hossam goes to Ajax in a jackpot transfer. Alaa Shahine focuses on the wonder boy
At season's end last year, as Zamalek mourned the loss of yet another football league title, a baby-faced teenager with the body of an oak tree came from nowhere to net twice against Aluminium. Though the game was meaningless for Zamalek, it would be a defining moment for the new kid on the block.
Last week, the new kid, Ahmed Hossam, became the highest paid player in the history of Egyptian football when he joined famed Holland side Ajax Amsterdam. While the Dutch giants refused to disclose the transfer fee, reports suggested it was in the neighbourhood of �3 million (LE18 million), shattering Tarek El-Said's $1,150,000 then record contract he signed with Belgian champions Anderlecht in April.
Speaking to the Weekly , Hossam said the Ajax move was a pleasant surprise. "I was training with the national team when I found out. I hope I prove I'm worth it."
"Everybody is impressed with Hossam," said Ajax technical manager Leo Beenhakker. "The scouts and members of the technical staff who have seen him play believe he is a top talent."
Almost everybody else who has seen Hossam in action says the same thing. The player was spotted by a Belgian player- agent at the end of last season and off to Brussels he went to join mid-table side Ghent. In 21 games in the Belgian league, Hossam scored 11 times, making him his team's top scorer. It was an achievement that helped him win Belgium's prestigious Discovery of the Year Award, beating out Club Bruges star Timmy Simons. Despite Hossam's heroics, Ghent finished in fifth place with 57 points, 26 behind champions Anderlecht. But if anything, Ghent's mediocre performance only helped magnify the feats of its Egyptian acquisition
Back in Egypt, unlike most of his peers, Hossam did not have to fight for a place in the team's line-up. At the tender age of 18 he made his international debut in January this year in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates. The real test, however, came against Morocco in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Though the match ended in a scoreless draw, two headers by Hossam showed how dangerous he could be in front of goal. Using his 190-centimetre height and 83-kilogramme bulk to optimum advantage, he shrugged off defenders only to hit the crossbar and see another header go just wide. He obviously lacked clinical finishing but a nose for goals was definitely there.
Lack of match fitness showed Hossam to be a mere mortal in his next couple of internationals. For many fans, it was beginning to sound like the same old story: another over- confident teen whose overnight fame had gone to his head and who would fizzle out sooner rather than later. But then came Hossam's first international goal, scored in a 1-0 victory against Senegal last month, which kept Egypt's World Cup hopes alive.
Hossam's path to the top has not been without its moments of controversy. While with Zamalek, the player was threatened with suspension for wearing his hair too long and refusing to get a haircut. His transfer to Belgium rescued his long locks although he had gotten a trim when last seen against Senegal.
More serious problems have surfaced in the wake of his move to Ajax. According to top European football site onefootball.com Hossam chose to join Ajax when Anderlecht suddenly lost interest in him. The Brussels side claimed it had a written agreement with Hossam which he refused to honour.
"That's not true," Hossam said. "I did not have any prior written agreement with Anderlecht. If I had one, why don't they show it to FIFA." Anderlecht's General Manager Michel Verschuren claims otherwise. "We lost interest because of the player's attitude. We had an agreement with him and he is denying it now."
Anderlecht's President Ragen Vanden echoed similar sentiments. "If a player signs for a club, then joins another, how can you conduct transfers?" When asked by Belgian reporters to produce the agreement, Verschuren said he no longer had a copy.
It was not the first time Hossam had been accused of not abiding by signed accords. Earlier this year, Galal Mahmoud, an Egyptian player agent licensed by FIFA, filed an official complaint against Hossam, accusing him of hiring the services of another agent, Roger Henrotay of Belgium, even though Mahmoud was supposedly his sole representative. Mahmoud said, "Henrotay took advantage of the player's lack of experience and plucked him away from me even though I got him tryouts with four European teams." Foremost among them, Mahmoud told Al-Ahram Weekly , was with the newly- crowned European champions Bayern Munich. Mahmoud added that Henrotay will get $2 million in commission from the Ajax deal.
However, Hossam tells a different story. "I signed with Henrotay because my former agent did not get me any serious offers which is typical of him," he said. "Mr Mahmoud is the agent of around 60 to 70 players in Ahli and Zamalek who dream of a European move," Hossam said. "However, they should not expect anything other than verbal and unofficial invitations from European clubs. And they will have to pay all the expenses like plane tickets."
Hossam added that Henrotay's commission will come from Ajax and Ghent's share, not his. "If I pay my agent $2 million in commission fees, then I must be making $10 million, which is not the case."
Mahmoud's complaint was recently referred to FIFA's Players' Status Committee which will take a decision at its next meeting. If found guilty, Hossam will be fined according to the articles of his agreement with Mahmoud, further lessening his share in the Ajax contract.
Even if fined, Hossam's remaining fee will be hefty. Unfortunately, Zamalek, the club which brought him to prominence, will be entitled to only $37,000, as stipulated by FIFA. Before leaving for Belgium, Hossam was not under contract with Zamalek whose board at the time was busy with other acquisitions.
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