The controversial football star talks to Alaa Abdel-Ghani on club and country partner Amr Zaki, racist abuse, and whether he plays for Egypt as well as he does in Europe Even though three officials working for the Barclays Premier League in England were helping set up the interview, it was still not easy to get hold of Ahmed Hossam, better known as Mido, one of Egypt's finest soccer exports. The phone interview from London was originally scheduled for Monday at 4pm (2pm English time), but an e- mail shortly before informed that Mido had been injured in training and would need treatment. The interview was thus rescheduled for the following day and, indeed, a mobile call from the UK was made to this writer. The words "anonymous" and "private" flashed on the cell screen but the line was cut off before getting in a word edgewise. Another attempt at calling from the caller was only natural, but was not made. A third attempt was made a day later but as it turned out, Wednesday is Mido's day-off, so he would not be taking any calls. One more attempt was made on Thursday. It was presumed Mido would call at 11:30 Cairo time; he eventually called -- almost four hours later. He had been appearing at an official coaching and signing session for Barclays. All fine and well but, it should be noted, the interview was commissioned by Barclays and was to be just 10 minutes, as was stipulated. That the interview took longer than it should could point to a problem of attitude. Mido was, after all, an established star in Europe at the ridiculously tender, and may be puerile, age of 17. Now 25, he's a millionaire many times over, instantly recognisable almost anywhere, enjoys Hollywood looks and an oak tree frame that puts him in the hunk category. Barring injury or jail time, Mido will never be unemployed. Just look at who he's played for -- Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo, Marseille, AS Roma and Tottenham. The Who's Who of some of the biggest clubs in Europe have all at one time enjoyed the services of this ox-built hitman who comes with splendid skills. But he's also weighed down by plenty of baggage. Having achieved so much in record time, is a touch of vanity or a trite of smugness showing? Perhaps, and if so, it has landed for Mido his share of problems, especially with coaches, here and abroad. But there is no escaping one incontestable truth: Mido is a prodigal star in a field of stars, playing in what is currently recognized as the best football land in the world. The exclusive time-out with Mido, who interjected some good English into his Arabic answers, broached where he might be playing next season. Mido, who recently joined Wigan on loan from Middlesbrough for a six-month spell, could return to his old club if Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate feels Mido can "redeem" himself after not playing, at least in Southgate's opinion, up to par. Before speaking to Mido, Middlesbrough were languishingly second from bottom in the Premiership with just 23 points, just 12 matches remaining, and with a real possibility of being relegated to the second division. So, is Mido really willing to play in the second division after having played in some of the most famous clubs in the world? "It doesn't matter right now. It's not on my mind. And anyway, it's still early. I know that Middlesbrough can play better." They sure can. A few days after the interview, they beat mighty Liverpool to jump out of the relegation zone, a point ahead of Stoke which could instead take the plunge. In Wigan, fate has paired Mido with another Saskatchewan, the newer, and perhaps now more famous Egyptian sensation in the Premiership, Amr Zaki, who is a highly commendable fourth in scoring among the league's marksmen in only his first appearance in Barclays. Mido and Zaki play together on both club and country -- they even made a commercial together about the Premiership on AlJazeera TV --- but are they really happy together? Does Mido harbour any resentment towards Zaki after what happened in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations semi--final against Senegal? (With the score tied 1-1 late in the game, out went Mido and in came Zaki who with his first touch, scored the winner as overtime loomed). Listen to what Wigan's coach Steve Bruce had to say in separate interviews about his team's current poor form: "Zaki is the one who can be the spark for us. He can set us on fire again with goals. We're fortunate to have Zaki who is already in double figures, and I hope that he can give himself some fresh impetus and score a few more for us. Once the weather becomes warmer, Zaki will start scoring." Mido's name as saviour never comes up. So, what exactly is Mido's relationship with Zaki, the new kid in town? "It's not right to construe things that aren't there. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Amr. We complement each other in Wigan and Egypt. I've helped Amr settle down in England and help in the translation between him and Coach Bruce. And by the way, against Senegal, my gripe was with [national team coach] Hassan Shehata, not Amr Zaki." Despite amassing 48 caps and scoring 19 goals, Mido's career with Egypt has been dogged by controversy, having twice been banned by the national set-up. The first row erupted with the Italian coach of Egypt Marco Tardelli who dropped Mido in September 2004 after Mido claimed to be unavailable for the national team due to an injury. Twenty-four hours later Mido was caught playing in a friendly match for AS Roma. He was then banned for six months, and hasn't played regularly for his country since his infamous touchline in-your-face bust-up with his coach Shehata after he was substituted against Senegal. Is Mido in Shehata's thoughts and plans when Egypt plays Zambia later this month in the first qualifier for the 2010 World Cup? "I guess so. Why not? I hope I'll play not just against Zambia but all the qualifying games and hopefully in the World Cup as well when, God willing, we get there. We also have the Confederations Cup in June. I did miss out on the Africa Cup of Nations last year, and I have missed some friendlies, but these have always been because of injuries. Nothing else." The next question is a follow-up that always follows Mido around: Doesn't he seem to play better for his clubs in Europe than for Egypt? Mido consistently and emphatically denies the charge. In 2004, he said he had turned down a massive bonus from Marseille to stay with the team and skip the Africa Cup of Nations, and rejected Tottenham's offer of �400,000 to skip the same competition. But some people remain skeptical; claiming he plays better in Europe because he makes tons more money overseas. Others say he's worried about injury while playing for Egypt. He doesn't gel with the national team players, it is often said, because he doesn't play with them that often. His Egyptian teammates are jealous of his fame and fortune, some believe, and as, such don't give him the ball as often as should be. He vehemently denies all. "I always give 100 per cent whenever I play for Egypt." But does the 100 per cent always show? Is he satisfied with his performance with the national team? "I know I can play better but I do give all-out effort." Though he has played in several European countries, Mido has suffered abuse from fans in just one of them: Britain. From a small section of the Southampton and West Ham United crowds, and twice from Newcastle supporters, he was subjected to Islamophobic fan abuse. The Football Association said it was "disappointed" a Newcastle fan who subjected Mido to racist abuse had escaped a court banning order. Mido directed his anger at an FA investigation, believing that it would make no difference. But in the French league recently, a Le Havre supporter who admitted making racist insults at Ghana and Lyon defender John Mensah, was charged and released on bail. The 21-year-old man risks up to six months in prison and a fine after being arrested by police for racist chanting during the match. What happened in the French league -- is that the kind of punishment Mido would seek in the Premiership? "It's up to them [the FA]. But you have to know what that Newcastle fan was saying. It was terrible, but you know what? His punishment was a �260 fine. That's it. You know, one of the worst things is to have your religion abused like that, very degrading. And because the punishment was so mild, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I suffer the same abuse again." Mido also had strong words for the African Football Federation for "lacking transparency" when Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor was picked African player of the year, beating out Egypt's Mohamed Abou Treika. It meant that Mahmoud El-Khatib remains the only Egyptian ever to win the prize, back in 1983. Mido cried foul. "The contest lacks transparency. What happened to all those votes?" Mido was referring to the 16 out of 53 African national team coaches who did not take part in the poll. Nobody seems to know why they didn't vote, and if they did, where did the votes go? Does he think he can win the award or was there a year he felt he should have won it? "I'm not really interested. I was voted the best junior in Africa in 2001. Like I said, it's not transparent." Of all the teams he played in, which club did Mido enjoy playing with most? "I learned a lot of things everywhere I played" but he has a special fondness for Ajax. And which club would he like to play for? "Barcelona. Ever since I was a kid, that's where I've always dreamt of playing." Barclays is title sponsor of the Barclays Premier League which is watched by a global audience of 4.77 billion throughout the season in more than 200 countries
