First he turned down a multi-million dollar contract, then became embroiled in a contractual dispute. Egypt's football star had a roller coaster week, reports Inas Mazhar A truly brilliant football player, a phenom, comes along perhaps once every 10 years. Few would argue that fits the bill, a superstar of Egypt's era, dubbed "the magician" for his skills in midfield whose Midas touch is translated into winning goals in crucial moments. His talent is unquestionable. So, too is his allegiance. Is he for real? Egyptians were wondering after Abu Treika last week turned down an offer to play in a Gulf club which would have landed him millions. Instead, he opted to remain with his club Ahli, explaining that the Egyptian team needed him as it begins a rebuilding process. The public thought Abu Treika slightly batty for turning down such an enormous amount of money, considering that at age 31 and his prime behind him, where and when would he ever get such an offer again? Abu Treika's decision to stay put increased his stature among his adoring fans but the bubble burst somewhat after he unexpectedly found himself mired in a dispute between the two biggest mobile phone companies in the country: Vodafone, the chief sponsor of Ahli and Abu Treika, and Mobinil. To show its appreciation for Abu Treika remaining with Ahli, Mobinil, owned by businessman Naguib Sawiris, gave him LE1 million. Abu Treika received the money in cheque form from Sawiris in the office of Samir Zaher, the president of the Egyptian Football Association and announced he was donating the money to charity. His photo with Zaher and top Mobinil officials was published in several Egyptian papers. But the picture upset Vodafone which accused Abu Treika of violating his contract with them. The following day, Abu Treika took out full-page and half-page advertisements in several Egyptian dailies, publishing an apology to his sponsors, saying he thought the donation was personal, from Sawiris to himself, and not from Mobinil to him per say. He said he had no idea that the picture would be used for the purpose of publicity and the marketing of Mobinil. In his apology ad, the player said he thanked Sawiris and had returned the money. Not for the first time had Abu Treika stirred up controversy. Politically, he has used sports to express opinions. In 2008 in a game against Sudan in the Africa Cup of Nations, after scoring he pulled off his T-shirt to reveal in large green letters adorned on his undershirt "Sympathise with Gaza" in lieu of one of the many sieges on Gaza by the Israeli occupation. For his political statement he was shown the yellow card and was warned by FIFA, world football's governing body. Abu Treika later said he could not prevent himself from supporting the Palestinians. "What's happening there is horrible. Stories by Ramzi Saleh [Ahli's Palestinian goalkeeper] are more painful than what we see on TV. We should do something for these people." In good and bad times, Abu Treika's strong Islamic faith sees him through. "Being religious doesn't mean only praying and reading the holy Quran but implementing the other ways of Islam," he has said. "I'm just a human being trying to do everything right in life as much as possible. I'm just trying to follow the right path as God instructed us which everybody else should be doing. "Every footballer or any athlete in general has to play a humanitarian role in society. He doesn't live alone in this world or only for himself. He is also here to help and assist others as much as he can. I like to contribute to charities and I try to do my best for the sick and the poor. I'm trying to use football as a tool in my humanitarian work." Up to day, Abu Treika's salary is less than some teammates on his own club, but he has said he always believed that money was a gift "which God distributes among his people and whatever is meant for me will come when God ordains it." Abu Treika is a UNDP goodwill ambassador along with Brazilian superstar Ronaldo and French legend Zinedine Zidane. He joined 40 international soccer stars in 2005 for a "Match Against Poverty" in Germany, with the aim of raising funds and increasing awareness about the issue worldwide. He scored in that match. He also volunteered to appear in a 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) in which he draws attention to the tragic fact that 25,000 people die from hunger every day, 18,000 of them children. "Hunger takes away a child every five seconds. We have to move immediately and lend each other a hand because every second counts. This is a game we have to win," says Abu Treika in the PSA which is being aired on Middle Eastern TV stations that are broadcasting it for free. Abu Treika shot another PSA in Egypt for helping children suffering from cancer. He did it for free and donated to help building a cancer hospital. In January 2007, he championed a blood donation drive held by the Ministry of Health. He appeared in PSAs for free and donated his true-blue blood. (see p.14)
