CAIRO - The year 2011 has been an outstanding one for Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, as it witnessed the toppling of Hosni Mubarak in an astonishing popular uprising. Although 2011 has been a difficult year for the Egyptians, they have done very well on the sporting front, their greatest achievement being the U-23 Olympic team qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Really what the U-23 Olympic team has made us all happy. After they succeeded in qualifying for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1992, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, and Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri sent a cable of greetings and congratulations to the Egyptian Olympic team. The Young Pharaohs qualified for the Olympics after defeating Senegal 2-0 at the U-23 African Cup of Nations (ACN) third place play-off in Marrakech. The Egyptian team also won the organising committee's Fair Play Award, while the same committee chose Egypt's goalkeeper Ahmed el-Shenawi, defender Moaz el-Henawi and midfielder Hossam Hassan as three of the CAF's best XI players in the U-23 CAF Championship. Egypt, Morocco and Gabon have all qualified for the 2012 London Games. Egypt's U-23 coach Hani Ramzi has said that he is optimistic that the team can do something good for the country in the 2012 Games.
Egypt is Arab Games champion in Qatar Egypt grabbed the title of the 2011 Arab Games that took place from December 9-23 in Doha, Qatar. The Egyptian athletes are topping the general standing of the games with 233 medals - 89 gold, 77 silver and 67 bronze. Tunisia is second with 138 medals, (54 gold, 45 silver and 39 bronze) and Morocco on third place with 113 medals (35 gold, 24 silver and 54 bronze). Qatar is fourth with 110 medals (32 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze) and Algeria fifth with 88 medals (16 gold, 31 silver and 40 bronze). Saudi Arabia is on sixth place with 45 medals (15 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze) and Kuwait on seventh with 63 medals (13 gold, 19 silver and 31 bronze). Iraq is eighth with 58 medals (11 gold, 13 silver and 34 bronze) and Jordan ninth with 47 medals (11 gold, 13 silver and 23 bronze). Qatar hosted the 12th edition of the Games ahead of the 2022 Football World Cup, which will also be held in this Gulf State.
Spotlight on the Egyptian Premier League Egypt soccer experts predict that the 2011-2012 Egyptian Premier League is going to be one of the most challenging competitions in recent years, as all 19 clubs in the top flight this season are looking strong. They, therefore, expect the competition to be ruthless in the coming weeks and months. The experts say that, in the first seven weeks of the season, most of the clubs played very well, with the small clubs undaunted by the giant ones. But, on the negative side, some of the matches have been marred by violence and fans letting off fireworks, forcing the EFA to order the country's giant clubs, Al-Ahly and Zamalek, to play their matches behind closed doors. The first six weeks of the Premier League witnessed the sacking of four coaches: the twins Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan of Ismaili; El-Mahalla's Salah el-Nahei after Zamalek crushed them 6-1; Smouha's Mimi Abdel-Razeq after they were held by El-Masry 1-1; and Military Production's Kamal Etman, when Haras el-Hodoud beat them 3-0. As for the Egyptian coaches who have been doing well since the start of the season, they include Tareq Yehia of Misr Elmaqasah (MCSD); Hamza el-Jamal of Talefounat Beni-Sueif; Haras el-Hodoud's Tareq el-Ashri; Helmi Toulon of Police Union; and El-Gouna Anwar Salama.
Pharaohs fail to qualify for 2012 ACN The big guns of African football have failed to qualify for the 28th edition of the African Cup of Nations (ACN), to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012. The Pharaohs' being ruled out of the 2012 ACN, for the first time in the competition's history, led to team coach Hassan Shehata resigning after six year at the helm, in which he led the country to three consecutive ACN trophies in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Shehata is now coaching Zamalek.
Bradley eyeing World Cup dream Former United States coach Bob Bradley signed a contract at the end of September to work as the Egypt national team's technical coach until July 2014. The 53-year-old Bradley replaces long-time coach Hassan Shehata, who stepped down in June towards the end of a disappointing ACN qualifying campaign. Bradley says that he is delighted to have been chosen to lead the African champions, promising to do his best to help the Egyptians achieve their dream of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. "I am proud to be Egypt's new coach," Bradley said, stressing that Egyptians are fond of soccer and that he will therefore do his best to please them. "After three glorious ACN victories, I know I'll have a tough job. It is a challenge and exciting too,” Bradley was quoted as saying.
Squash breakthrough Four-time world squash champion Amr Shabanah of Egypt claimed his second US Open title in three years, defeating top-seed Nick Matthew of Britain by three sets to one last October. Last September, Egypt's squash star Ramy Ashour, the world's number 2, retained the British Grand Prix title, after beating Britain's Nick Matthew (1-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4) in Manchester. In the same month, Egypt's world number 12 Raneem el-Weleili won the Carol Open Women's squash tournament in New York, defeating world number 2, Britain's Jenny Duncalf, 3-0.
Glory for Egypt's tennis Egypt's Mayar Sherif, world ranked 168, won the individuals' competitions at the International Junior Championship played in Egypt last October. Around 170 players participated in the tournament representing 26 countries, including Egypt (the host country), US, Spain, Italy, UK, Russia, Holland, France, Japan, Algeria and India. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Tennis Federation (ETF), chaired by Israa el-Sanhouri, praised the tennis players who participated in the All-Africa Games held in Maputo, Mozambique at the end of September for doing so well. The ETF organised a celebration in honour of Karim Ma'moun, Sherif Sabri, Mayar Sherif and Magi Aziz, as well as Tamer el-Sawi, the national team coach. The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, first held in 1965 in Brazzaville, Congo. The Egyptian players proved their mettle throughout the tournament. Aziz and Mayar Sherif grabbed the gold medal in the doubles competitions, while Sherif Sabri won silver in the individual competitions. Karim Ma'moun and Sherif Sabri also snatched bronze in the doubles competitions.
31 in the FIFA rankings African champions Egypt have finished the year in the 31st place in the FIFA world rankings. Egypt came second among the Arab teams, just behind Algeria in 30th place. The Pharaohs are the fourth-ranked team in Africa, behind Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Algeria.
The Butterfly of the Nile Farida Hisham Osman did Egypt proud in setting a new world record in the 3rd World Junior Swimming Championships held in Peru last September. She made history and set a world record in grabbing the gold medal in the 50m butterfly with a time of 26.69 seconds, helping Egypt to 11th place in the medal charts of the tournament, the highest place of any African or Arab country for a long time. Farida is the first Egyptian swimmer to rewrite the swimming world record books for more than 20 years by smashing the old record set by a South African swimmer, who swam the 50m butterfly in 26.70 seconds. The World Junior Swimming Championships, held every two years, are open to girls aged 15-17 and boys aged 16-18. The 2011 tournament was the third edition; the two previous championships were held in Brazil and Mexico. The 3rd World Junior Swimming Championships witnessed the participation of 528 swimmers (246 women and 282 men), representing 58 nations. The tournament came up with 42 new records, while 19 countries won medals. Shikaballah 2nd Best Arab Player Egypt's international Mahmoud Abdel Razeq 'Shikaballah' has been voted the 2nd Best Arab Player of the Year, according to a survey by the Euro Sports website. The talented Zamalek playmaker got 22 per cent of votes.
Zamalek - 100 years of glory There was an awe-inspiring atmosphere as around 50,000 fans filled Cairo International Stadium last November 11 to celebrate Zamalek's centenary. Although the White Knights lost 4-1 to Spain's Atletico Madrid, the fans enthusiastically waved flags and chanted songs in support of their team. In a seven-hour celebration, Zamalek honoured the club's many important players, presidents and coaches over many generations. The celebration also included songs specially composed for the occasion; and for the martyrs of the January 25 revolution.
Flexing their golden muscles Although it's not a popular media sport, Egyptians cannot help but be proud of their highly trained athletes who grabbed the world title at the World Bodybuilding Championship held in India last November. Egypt's bodybuilding teams had previously clinched the gold medal in the 2005 World Bodybuilding Championships held in Manama; in 2006 in New York; in 2007, again in New York; in 2008, again in Manama; in 2009 in Dubai; and in 2010 in Azerbaijan. The Pharaohs talented bodybuilders include Anwar el-Amawi, Mohamed Othman, Ahmed Talaat, Gamal Ahmed, Amr el-Bosaili, Mahmoud Fadali, Moustafa Nassim, Mohamed Zakaria and Ahmed Hamouda.
Pentathletes off to London Egypt's Modern Pentathlon Team have booked two seats for the 2012 Olympics Games to be held in London, after winning both the women and men's African Modern Pentathlon qualifying tournament, which wound up in Alexandria last July. Athletes Aya Medany and Yasser Hefni bagged the two Olympic places for Egypt on behalf of the African continent. Aya grabbed gold and the first place for women with 5,072 points, while Hefni snatched the gold and first place for men with 5,784 points.
Special Pharaohs snatch 41 medals Egypt's Special Pharaohs achieved a stunning triumph at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens last July, grabbing 41 medals, including 12 golds, 16 silvers and 13 bronzes. The event witnessed the participation of around 7,500 athletes from 185 countries competing in 22 Olympic-type sports. Egypt participated in this year's Athens Games, the fifth Summer Games for Egypt since their inception in 1994, with a 77-member delegation, including 54 athletes, 21 coaches and the delegation's chairman and deputy. Egyptian athletes competed in 11 sports: swimming, athletics, badminton, basketball for girls, boccia, bowling, horse riding, sevens football, weightlifting, table tennis and tennis.
