CAIRO - Bob Bradley, the technical coach of Egypt's senior football team, says that he is satisfied with his team's performance during the Dubai training camp, stressing that building a new team doesn't mean excluding the big, experienced players. "Any team in the world needs the experienced players besides the young ones, as they both play a vital role on the park,” he told Modern Koora TV channel, explaining, however, that the Pharaohs can afford to field no more than three experienced players in any game. "No team can play without any experienced players at all," Bradley added, explaining that the likes of veterans Ahmed Hassan, Wael Gomaa, Mohamed Abou Treika and Essam el-Hadari play a vital role in difficult games. "Abou Treika is well motivated and a great example for all the players," the 53-year-old former US coach pointed out, revealing that he has settled on the 16 players who will be the major element for the Pharaohs during their 2013 ACN qualifier and their 2014 World Cup qualifier. Egypt have been drawn in Group G, alongside Guinea, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, for the World Cup qualifiers. The Egyptian senior team will start their World Cup qualifiers in June by hosting Mozambique. A week later, they will play their second game in the group against Guinea away from home, before facing Central Africa in the ACN qualifiers in mid-June. Bradley stressed that the team have benefited from their latest two training camps, achieving harmony between old and new players. Diaa el-Sayyed, the general coach of Egypt's senior football team, agrees that they have learnt a lot from the United Arab Emirates preparation camp, stressing that the coaching staff are now putting together the basic line-up of the team. One of the most important achievements is the synchronisation between Emad Mete'ab and Mohamed Naggui 'Geddo'. "The squad will include four Olympic national team players – Ahmed Hegazi, Ahmed Shenawi, Mohamed Salah and Mohamed el-Nini," el-Sayyed added in televised remarks after the Iraq friendly last Tuesday. The Pharaohs ended their training camp in the UAE with a goalless draw against Iraq. The camp in Dubai ran from 10th to 18th April 10 to 18, during which they played three friendlies, against Nigeria, Mauritania and Iraq. After the Mauritania friendly in Dubai, el-Sayyed told reporters that the coaching staff have already decided on 90 per cent of the squad, stressing that the final line-up for forthcoming official matches will have been fixed by 1st May. He explained that the unusual conditions in the country in the wake of the Port Said tragedy that led to the cancellation of the Premier League have pushed the coaching staff to hold preparation camps and play friendlies in Qatar, Sudan and the UAE. The ex-Ahly star told Al-Hayat TV channel that the dates for the team's next preparation camp has yet to be decided, although it could be in Turkey. Zaki Abdel-Fattah, the national team goal-keeping coach, revealed that the Pharaohs' are thinking of holding another preparation camp in early May, without Ahly, Zamalek and Enppi players. "We want to start the last training camp before our ACN and World Cup qualifier on May 15," Abdel-Fattah told Yallakora.com. Earlier this month, the Egyptian senior team ended a four-day Sudan-based preparation camp, during which they played two friendlies against Uganda and Chad. The Pharaohs stunned Chad 4-0, thanks to a goal by Mohamed Salah in the 30th minute, a powerful Ahmed Khairi header in the 44th minute and a strike by Ahmed Hassan Mekki on 90 minutes. Chad defender Hassan Hussein also helped the Egyptian cause with an own goal in the 88th minute. Prior to this, the Pharaohs defeated Uganda 2-1, thanks to goals by Olympic player Mohamed Salah and Ahly playmaker Abou Treika.
