CAIRO: Football fans on Egypt's Red Sea coast will finally have their own team to cheer on this season as El Gouna FC prepares to take on established teams in the Egyptian league. Founded six years ago and owned by Egyptian tycoon Samih Sawiris, the Hurghada-based team was promoted last season to the nation's premier league, a first for the Red Sea governorate. Expectations are high as the team prepares to face off with powerhouses Al-Ahly, Zamalek and Ismaili; and many are predicting that they will follow in the footsteps of teams owned by private companies, such as ENPPI and Petrojet, who have seen a lot of success in very little time. "We are going to play entertaining, offensive, clean football and maybe introduce a number of young talents, Ismail Youssef, the team's head coach, told Daily News Egypt While acknowledging that the competition will be tough, Youssef said that they hope to at least stay in the premier league this season. "Our long term plans are to contend with major clubs; however, we will take it step by step first by staying in the league then achieving a good position in the table next season. [At that point] we can compete given that we add a number of excellent players to the club, he said. The administration isn't taking any chances, keeping only nine players from the original team and buying 14 new players worth LE 15 million, making them the most active club in the transfer market. Transfers included well-known names like former Ahly players Wael Ryad, Hussein Ali, Amr Samaka and Rami Adel as well as former Feyenoord goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy and two Ecuadorians: midfielder Henry Leon and striker Walter Issa. The team is holding their training camp in Switzerland, getting their feet wet by playing five matches against Swiss top flight sides, a chance not many newly-promoted teams get. As for where they'll be kicking off, around 350 workers are putting the final touches on the team's Hurghada stadium, which will have a capacity of 10,000 fan, so they can play at home instead of in Cairo. There are also plans to establish an international stadium to hold 40,000 in the coming years. With their relatively healthier financial capabilities - compared to recently promoted public teams such as Mansoura - El Gouna was accused of raising players' prices in the transfer market. However, club officials are quick to refute these allegations. "We have a budget that we can't surpass; plus, we stayed within the range of average prices that other clubs like Al-Ahly and Zamalek pay, Youssef said. "I can confirm that no player on the team has exceeded LE 1 million, he added Ahmed El-Seheify, the team's administrative manager and co-founder of the club, said that it's unfair to compare El Gouna with public clubs. "These clubs have strong youth teams that produce a lot of talent every year. They also have a massive fan base, which serves as a constant source of motivation for the players, unlike companies and privately-owned clubs, he told Daily News Egypt. Youssef said that the players who joined the team were looking for time on the field and stability, especially that the money offered them was almost equal to other clubs. Most of them are young and "eager to prove themselves and show their talents, he said. With the relegation of public clubs such as Tersana and Olympic as well as others who were on the brink of relegation, namely El-Masry of Port Said, Ghazl El-Mahallah of Mahallah and Ittihad of Alexandria, clubs like El Gouna are reshaping Egypt's premier league. "These public clubs have a heritage of more than 100 years; for these new clubs to challenge them and win trophies, they must have history, potential and a wide fan base, said Hassan El-Mestekawy, a famous sports columnist El-Mestekawy said that the league has already seen a change with the wave of clubs from private companies and institutions - such as ENPPI, Haras El-Hodoud, Police, El-Geish and Petrojet - who have replaced public, less privileged clubs in representing their governorates. "These clubs have a good chance if they don't surrender to the sense of inequality and bias in favor of public clubs with which Egyptian football is managed, he said. El Gouna is seen as a promising start for the series of privately-owned clubs competing in the Egyptian league, like Wadi Degla and clubs of Upper Egypt companies, according to Youssef. "Although I support public clubs, football now requires [strong] financial capabilities for clubs to survive, El-Seheify said "Money alone is not enough. There must be good technical management and a clear strategy to achieve success, Youssef added. "Public clubs can improve their financial situation if they apply new and creative ideas - unfortunately, they don't. "Everywhere in the world, there are rich clubs and poor clubs. Public clubs must invest in their youth and manage their resources more efficiently, El-Mestekawy said. El Gouna is now establishing a youth academy for potential talent in the Red Sea governorate, and will host European clubs holding their training camps in Egypt.
