He is the Egypt number one, he is the most successful goalkeeper in the nation's history, he is the best keeper in three straight Nations Cup finals, he is the High Dam …and he is the Fugitive. Essam Al-Hadari has been a role model for goalkeepers until the winter of 2008, thanks to a glittering 12-year spell with Ahli and some unprecedented feats for Egypt. He turned 35 in January 2008, and after reaching the caliber of one of the top goalkeepers in the history of Africa, ''veteran'' was an understatement for the Egypt goalie. However, a series of acts of staggering unprofessionalism earned him the nickname 'The Fugitive'. (Apologies to Dr. Richard Kimble!) Starting with the notorious switch from Ahli to Sion, Al-Hadari has been anything but a professional, despite maintaining his superb shape between the posts. The justification was that he wanted a ‘new challenge' and had to ‘secure his future financially' and thus decided to join a mediocre club in one of the lowest-ranked leagues in Western Europe. He was unconcerned to lose his reputation among the huge Ahli fan-base and seemed to be paying little attention to the inevitable sanction awaiting him, until, as planned, the one-season was over in Switzerland and then came the next step. It was time for tears and regret in an attempt to appease the Ahli board and return ‘home' after making a ‘big mistake', but this one didn't work with the ruthless Cairo giants. Short stints with Ismaili and Zamalek, marred with controversy, fortified the suggestion that the infamous Sion case was not just a ‘big mistake', it was rather an attitude. Al-Hadari was then sold to Merreikh of Sudan after persistently requesting the move, while a $900,000 fine and a four-month ban didn't seem to be much of a punishment for the Sion move. A fine start with the Khartoum club suggested that maybe Al-Hadari has finally settled, only for him to ‘decide to quit' in the middle of the season. Again, Al-Hadari did not request transfer, he just decided to quit! Referring to something called ‘contract', Merreikh expectedly didn't welcome their first-choice goalkeeper's behavior, until he decided to take matters into his own hands. He simply ‘escaped' Sudan to negotiate a move to the Egyptian league, incurring the wrath of his club and setting the record straight that he just loves to be called ‘The Fugitive'! It also indicates that a several-months ban is never enough for players like Al-Hadari. The aforementioned were only the events of three-and-a-half controversial years in Al-Hadari's ongoing career, proving that, in Egypt, as long as you are performing on the pitch, nothing else matters. Unprofessionalism is a trade mark in Egypt, but footballers must begin to realize that their acts can take a dangerous toll on succeeding generations and on the reputation of their fellow ‘professionals'. This is not just mere criticism for Al-Hadari, but is rather an attempt to make people aware that the icon of hundreds of young goalkeepers is not particularly the role model to follow off the pitch.
