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Handgoal Talks 4 | العميد..تاريخ كرة اليد المصرية | حمادة النقيب — Transcript

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0:00But there were signs that this
0:02generation had players who would turn
0:05out to be good. Captain Gamal deals
0:08with you psychologically, pushing you
0:10to give your maximum effort for his
0:13sake and for your country. The 2001
0:15match is likely engraved in all of
0:18Egypt's memory. Everywhere I go here in
0:21Doha or abroad, they remind us of the
0:242001 generation, which had so many
0:26transgressions. Our players were being
0:29hit, and no fouls were called for us. I
0:31mean, the officiating was not at the
0:34level we had expected. Even if it's a
0:36bronze medal, he understands that if I
0:39take this bronze, it will go down in
0:41history, and I can build on it to take
0:43silver or gold later. Today's episode
1:08is, for me personally, a very important
1:10one—one of the times we sit down to
1:13look at the history of handball in
1:15Egypt. From the first achievement to
1:17the last one, he has, thank God,
1:18participated in them all. 11
1:20consecutive participations in the World
1:22Cup. 12 participations in the African
1:23Championship. We could count many
1:25things. We could count titles. We could
1:27count things outside. On the court and
1:29off the court. But the idea is that
1:31this is truly one of the episodes that,
1:33for me personally and for us, is a very
1:36big addition. As I said at the
1:37beginning, we have a piece of Egyptian
1:39handball history with us today. So we
1:42would like to welcome Captain Hamada
1:44El-Naqeeb.
1:44Welcome, Moamen, and I am honestly very
1:48happy—happy because I am delighted by
1:51your success.
1:52God bless you.
1:53And by the success of Handgoal.
1:54God bless you.
1:55So I am, of course, honored to be here
1:58with you today.
2:00And to be a light guest for you, God
2:02willing.
2:03No, the most important and wonderful
2:05guest, God willing.
2:06First, we apologize for the long trip
2:08from Alexandria to Cairo for the
2:10filming, and we tell your wife that she
2:12is lighting up the background of the
2:14shoot; maybe it’s a blessing that she
2:16is here.
2:18God bless you.
2:19Let's start by checking in on you. You
2:23have been, for the last period—from
2:252017 until now—almost at Al Sadd club
2:28. For a short period, you came with the
2:29Egyptian national team in the last
2:30World Cup. So update us, for the people
2:33who want to know how you are and where
2:35you are.
2:35Look, Moamen, since 2017, as you said,
2:38I have been with Al Sadd club, and Al
2:41Sadd, by the way, is a very big name in
2:44Asia and Qatar, and even on the Arab
2:46level; it has many major championships,
2:49winning five Asian titles.
2:51Exactly.
2:52It is a big club, and I am, of course,
2:55honored to be part of the system there;
2:58I am the goalkeeping coach there, and
3:00thank God, I have...Among the
3:03goalkeepers I have on the team are
3:05players in the Qatar national team, in
3:08the youth and junior teams, and in the
3:11first team. So, thank God. And I am
3:14happy to be there; the work there
3:17doesn't have the tension of Egypt a
3:20little bit. I loved taking the
3:23experience in 2017, exactly after the
3:26World Championship in France; I was
3:30with Marwan Ragab, and perhaps we
3:33achieved 2016, where we won the African
3:37Championship.
3:38And we qualified for the Rio de Janeiro
3:40Olympic Games.
3:40In 2016 and 2017, there was the World
3:44Championship, and I was faced with a
3:47choice: either continue here in Egypt
3:50with the national team or try a new
3:53experience with Al Sadd club in another
3:56country.
3:57You know, sometimes you feel that
4:00change is necessary, and you also
4:04consider the financial aspect, which
4:08you have to think about for your family
4:12. So, the choice was to travel. At
4:15times, I was there in Qatar as a coach
4:20for the youth and junior national teams
4:24. A loan to the Qatar Handball
4:27Association.
4:28My last tournament was the Arab Games,
4:31which were in Algeria last year,
4:33specifically in August 2023 with the
4:36Qatar national team.
4:37Right.
4:39And we won the gold medal. So,
4:41thankfully, my career is going well. My
4:44last participation with the Egypt
4:46national team was in 2023 at the World
4:49Championship in Sweden. And thank God,
4:51I was satisfied with the period I
4:53worked. Maybe it was short. But thank
4:57God, I was satisfied.
4:59Exactly, you had arrived less than a
5:00month before the tournament, right?
5:02A month and a half.
5:03Exactly 45 days, 45 days.
5:07Exactly, and the result, in the end,
5:09was that at least in terms of ranking,
5:11thank God we maintained what we had
5:13reached in '21.
5:13We could have done better, but keep in
5:16mind, Moamen, people don't always take
5:19this into account; we had injuries, and
5:23maybe some very serious ones. Dodo was
5:26just returning from injury.
5:28Yahia Khaled had an ACL injury at that
5:31time.
5:32And also...I believe El-Deraa wasn't
5:37ready either, perhaps his injury
5:40started...
5:41It was during the tournament.
5:42It was during the tournament or a bit
5:43before it.
5:44Exactly.
5:44Right, so you didn't have the full team
5:48to go further than, say, seventh place,
5:52even though we lost the Sweden match—
5:55we played a very good first 20 minutes
5:59in the first half.
6:01Exactly.
6:02But of course, luck, and their
6:04goalkeeper Palicka, had the game of his
6:08life.
6:08Exactly, I haven't seen him play like
6:11that before or since. I knew him, he
6:14was playing—I retired while he was
6:17still with the Sweden team—he played
6:20a brilliant match. The same goes for
6:23the Germany goalkeeper in the 5th/6th
6:26place match, Wolff, he had a great game
6:29.
6:29Exactly.
6:30So, these things are, of course,
6:35factors in why we couldn't go further.
6:40Alright, let's go back quite a bit. We
6:42want to know how the beginning happened
6:45for you, right from the very start.
6:47Ah, the decision to play handball from
6:49the start is a big thing.
6:50No, no, guys, really.
6:52Look, like anyone else, maybe handball
6:55wasn't as popular then as it is now. My
6:58neighbor had started playing and asked
7:01me to join; he suggested I go to the
7:04Olympic Club, and as soon as the coach,
7:07Captain Hammad—may God grant him
7:09health, he is still around today—saw
7:12me...
7:13And I am honored that he is one of the
7:15first-generation coaches. Who brought
7:18me into the sport and so on. Honestly,
7:21he said to me, "Come.""Do you want to
7:22play handball?" He said, "You are,
7:23ماشاء الله (thank God), built
7:24for it." You have all the qualities
7:26that make you a great player. And thank
7:28God, I mean. Thank God for what he
7:32calculated or what he set out for him.
7:35Thank God, I mean, God guided me
7:37through it.
7:38From day one, was it you who was chosen
7:39, or did he nominate you for the
7:41position?
7:41I was the one, yes, I was. Because I
7:44went with my brother Jasser—who is
7:48currently in the US—and my friends
7:51from the street, who lived on the same
7:54street as me, were there too. The
7:57choices were to play other positions,
7:59so he picked me. I was a goalkeeper.
8:02And thank God, thank God. I even, I
8:05left in exactly 2008. From the Olympic
8:10Club. I left the Olympic Club and went
8:12to Paris Saint-Germain.
8:13So, from the time you joined the youth
8:15team at Olympic until 2008, all that
8:17was within the club?
8:18Since I was a kid, exactly, what I’m
8:21telling you I remember is '84.
8:24And I was born in '74.
8:26Mashallah, mashallah.
8:27I went to the Olympic Club when I was
8:2910 years old, okay, and I left in
8:32exactly 2007. 2008, before the Olympic
8:36Games, okay, which
8:38was the start of the 2008-2009 season.
8:402008-2009, I went to Paris
8:42Saint-Germain, exactly.
8:44Exactly.
8:44It was Paris Handball before
8:46before the Paris brand that exists now
8:49took over.
8:50Exactly. We’ll get to that, we’ll
8:52get to that later and learn the details
8:53about Paris. Alright, let’s go back
8:54to the beginning. You were at Olympic
8:56and climbed the ranks there until,
8:58mashallah, the youth national team. The
9:00beginning itself, I don’t even know
9:02if it was possible back then. That you
9:04were at a youth world championship, and
9:06you were winning a youth world
9:07championship. And back then, I think as
9:09Egypt, we weren't really thinking about
9:11handball. That we were competing, and
9:13that we were on the map. Exactly, so
9:14what were the details of what happened?
9:16It was a very difficult matter. And,
9:18well, we weren't, I don't want to tell
9:21you. If one thinks about it a little,
9:24we hadn't counted on winning a
9:26championship. Perhaps the period we
9:28entered with Captain Gamal Shams was
9:31about building a generation for Egypt.
9:35For Egypt to be able to do it later.
9:37But for us to win a championship, that
9:38was a very difficult task.
9:39It wasn't even taken into consideration
9:41, really.
9:41Sure. Certainly, when Captain Gamal,
9:44may he rest in peace, came to make a
9:46report, for instance. What could this
9:48national team achieve? It was very
9:50difficult for him to say that. I’ll
9:52win a world championship with them, but
9:55I’m building a generation for the
9:57Egypt national team or for Egypt in
9:59handball that can continue the journey
10:01that began, maybe we were the start.
10:04It was '91, for example, when Africa.
10:06Africa.
10:07Exactly, and two years later was the
10:09start of the youth national team for
10:10the World Championship, and us winning
10:12in '93 in Cairo.
10:13Exactly, exactly, it was a dream built,
10:16built during the tournament with our
10:19results; maybe we played teams, we
10:21gradually progressed, but there were
10:24signs that this generation had players
10:27who would turn out well.
10:29But during the tournament, was there a
10:31sign even among you as players? Like,
10:32that you could actually make it? We
10:34were, yes, of course. After we arrived,
10:36perhaps we played against teams early
10:38on. I think, if I recall, it was
10:41Portugal and...Teams that we were
10:44observing. I mean, we had seen them in
10:47friendly matches. These teams are
10:49heavyweights, very tough. But we were
10:52always afraid of playing the
10:54Scandinavian countries. Maybe Denmark,
10:57Sweden, Iceland. We also played Iceland
11:01in the semi-final, Iceland. And after
11:04that, we played the final against
11:06Denmark. So, all of those were
11:08indicators that told us, no, we can
11:11beat these teams. It’s a dream you
11:14build one piece at a time, and it comes
11:16true.
11:16And I think, back then, the fans also
11:18played a huge role, even during the
11:20final.
11:20Of course, a huge factor for us
11:22personally and a huge factor against
11:25the teams playing us.
11:26Because I don't really see it now when
11:29the arena is played in, especially in
11:31championships, who knows, it might fill
11:34up, but currently in the African
11:36Championship, for example, I don't see
11:39the numbers.
11:40And the size [of crowds] that was
11:41present in the '93 World Championship.
11:44Exactly, I mean the volume of fans.
11:47Handball was, you could measure it
11:51against anyone, or check the popularity
11:54, you'd find handball ahead of any
11:58sport in Egypt. I mean, and of course,
12:00our government in Egypt. Was always
12:03supporting handball. That is also one
12:05of the factors. I see now there is very
12:07significant support. Maybe when the
12:09time comes we'll talk about it, but
12:11still. We are still, as a game, not
12:13that popular. Or not very widespread,
12:16handball, even globally. Or was it in a
12:19country like Egypt? But no, there was
12:23support. There was support. The
12:25Minister was always coming to see us.
12:28Abdel Moneim Emara was always with us
12:30at the matches. Every time we won a
12:33match, he was always there, even with
12:36the bonuses. The psychological support
12:39for the players was always there with
12:42us.
12:43Now, Captain Gamal Shams is one of the
12:45people who influenced the generation
12:47that started with the World
12:48Championship and carried Egypt's name
12:50for a long time, and people talk about
12:52the strength of his character and the
12:54addition he brings to every personality
12:56. Everyone, regardless of just handball
12:58. So, what do you see as his
13:00contribution to you in '93? '93.
13:02No, Captain Gamal, as you said, Moamen,
13:04perhaps. He is a human being before
13:07being a coach. Actually, the handball
13:11he taught us—we learned from many
13:13coaches, in all fairness. But with
13:16Captain Gamal, he is a person who
13:18treats you psychologically, making you
13:20give your maximum effort for the sake
13:23of this man and for the sake of your
13:25country; that is exactly the
13:26contribution Captain Gamal added to us.
13:29How did he prepare you for matches, for
13:31example, or how did he set up the
13:33tournament?
13:34Captain Gamal, I personally treated him
13:38, or he treated me, exactly like his
13:42son, or he was like my father; so I
13:45give my absolute maximum in everything
13:49he tells me from the training I do. I
13:54mean, over three years, for example. I
13:56think I joined the national team
13:58exactly in 1990. We played the
14:01tournament in '93, right. So, three
14:04years of training. I mean, we were
14:07training at the Police Academy.
14:09Right.
14:10So, intense training. So you collect
14:12all of that. These are experiences you
14:14gained over the three years. You have a
14:17choice. Or you have the choice to give
14:20your all. To pass the tournament
14:24without benefiting from it. Then your
14:26experience or your participation is
14:28just average, as they say. What we
14:31achieved was a position that Egypt
14:36might find hard to repeat in the coming
14:41period. I honestly attribute all of
14:44that to Captain Gamal. Captain Gamal
14:48worked on training on the pitch, plus
14:51the psychological aspect.
14:53What are some moments you recall? For
14:55instance, he was with you in '93 as
14:57part of the youth team, and he kept
14:59returning to the national team, perhaps
15:02ending with the 2010 Africa Cup, which
15:04we unfortunately lost.
15:05Exactly. So, what moments do you
15:07remember about him?
15:08Well, for example, on a human level, he
15:11used to buy things for us. Back then,
15:15there were no sponsors and we didn't
15:18have the current setup where a clothing
15:22company sponsors you.
15:24Right.
15:25He would buy the clothes, like jackets,
15:27especially when we were going to a
15:29European country. He’s the one who
15:32would get those for us. I remember that
15:35about him because he would provide for
15:37the whole team.
15:38He covered the costs.
15:39He handled it, exactly. Plus, of course
15:42. There were times, occasionally. Where
15:46he would be tough. We didn't. With. We
15:50didn't get upset or bothered by that
15:53part. Nowadays, if you criticize a
15:57player or upset them. They don't take
16:00it well. But we always handled it. He
16:04would yell. He would be harsh, exactly,
16:08and we would take that in a positive
16:10way. One of the things, really.
16:12Honestly, Captain Gamal is one of the
16:14people who influenced me greatly. And
16:16he influenced a generation, our entire
16:18generation, by the way.
16:19Exactly.
16:20Captain Gamal was a great personality,
16:22may God have mercy on him.
16:25So, after the '93 World Cup, the
16:27generation started to form and become
16:30the one that would take over after the
16:33generation that started Africa. Your
16:35first World Cup was in '95.
16:38'95, yes, correct.
16:39We said about 16 players, half the
16:41national team was from the old
16:42generation and about eight players from
16:44the younger generation who had just won
16:46the Youth World Championship.
16:47It wasn't all of them. Ashraf was
16:50definitely there, so were Gohar and
16:53Mahmoud Hussein. But there were those
16:56younger than them; we were younger
16:59because those who won the World
17:01Championship were born in '72.
17:04Exactly.
17:05We were born in '74.
17:06Exactly.
17:07It was me and Marwan.
17:09Okay. And perhaps both of us had a
17:12great tournament. Marwan Ragab played
17:16some very good matches. He was
17:18distinguished in defense. As for me,
17:21thank God, I was ranked fifth among
17:23goalkeepers, even though I was younger
17:26than that age bracket, younger than the
17:28first team, and I still had a youth
17:30World Championship ahead of me.
17:33So, it was a very big deal for me.
17:36El-Roubi was with me at the time, and
17:40of course, Ayman Salah. I think during
17:44that stage or period, we had a foreign
17:47coach.
17:48I think it was Weiler.
17:49Exactly, Weiler. And you know how
17:52foreign coaches are. He came to us
17:54about two or three months before the
17:56tournament. And with him were me, and
17:58his assistant Mohamed Abdel-Mati,
18:00Captain Mohamed Abdel-Mati. You know,
18:02Moamen, perhaps during that period the
18:05foreign coach didn't know anyone and
18:08didn't know the names, even though, of
18:11course, Captain Ayman Salah was there,
18:14and El-Roubi too, and Ahmed El-Awady,
18:17by the way, from Alexandria here, and
18:20Khaled El-Awady was there, but he was
18:23the one who chose who would be present.
18:26For that tournament, I played some of
18:28the best matches I've ever played in my
18:31life. Maybe it wasn't in the spotlight
18:35that much. But a tournament I remember.
18:39Maybe I don't want to tell you match by
18:40match. No, we remember it ball by ball.
18:43Actually, I also remember it was the
18:44Iceland tournament, it was in Iceland.
18:46It was in Iceland.
18:47And people were saying that, yes, it
18:49wasn't in the spotlight at the time,
18:50but this was the start of the Egyptian
18:52national team truly finding its footing
18:54.
18:54That this was the first time the
18:56Egyptian national team entered the
18:57quarter-finals and started actually
18:59beating European teams; I think we beat
19:01Romania and the Czechs.
19:02We beat Romania and the Czechs, right,
19:04exactly, and we lost to Croatia in the
19:07quarter-finals.
19:08Exactly, okay.
19:10True, and maybe we...That match, we
19:14didn't, you know, we didn't prepare for
19:16it very well.
19:17At that time, everyone who beat Tunisia
19:18, it was almost like penalties,
19:19something like that.
19:20Yes, exactly, penalty shots, so they
19:23played penalty shots, and we went into
19:25the match thinking, no, it's easy for
19:28us to win, and that was the biggest
19:30mistake, of course; there wasn't the
19:33right psychological preparation, also
19:36the video aspect wasn't like it is now.
19:38I remember, for example...
19:40Their left-handed winger, or their
19:44right winger, was Irfan. Irfan, the
19:47coach who coached us later in Egypt,
19:50Croatia, he would always place the ball
19:52and shoot it over the goalkeeper's head
19:55. So there wasn't that video that...The
19:58performance analyst who sits and shows
20:00you now with 10 or 15 balls how he puts
20:03it. So the coach came and told me about
20:07it. Watch out, he does it like this, he
20:10shoots it in a certain way. I didn't
20:12have that sense of...I didn't believe
20:15him because I hadn't seen it, I hadn't
20:18seen it at all, you're just telling me.
20:20Okay, the first ball in the match, I
20:23remember it, if that match is available
20:26, the first ball he put over my head,
20:29maybe he put another or a ball after
20:32that, that was it; he made me lose
20:35focus in that match. In that match, it
20:38was me and Ayman, I think, we didn't
20:40perform as well as the other matches we
20:44played in the tournament.
20:46Right, but that took you out of the
20:48game, whereas now, as a performance
20:50analyst and goalkeeper coach, there
20:53were no goalkeeper coaches back then. A
20:55goalkeeper coach sits with you and
20:57shows you with evidence and tells you,
21:00and you have to believe.
21:02Exactly.
21:02And you have to listen to him and
21:04execute on the pitch.
21:05Exactly. And even if you didn't see it,
21:07he's giving you numbers and giving you
21:08angle locations. So you are required to
21:11do it. So, of course, that part took
21:13you out of the match. Maybe the coach
21:15did it unintentionally. But he put you
21:18in a state of doubt. Will the player
21:21continue like that or not? Will he
21:23change? He changed, okay. But, you know
21:26.
21:26So, how was the preparation back then?
21:28How were you trying to prepare?
21:30Preparation, sometimes if we could get
21:33a match recorded from TV, okay, there
21:36were the usual statistics that were on
21:40paper.
21:40Right.
21:41Yeah, the winger entered, that winger
21:43is dangerous, but.
21:44Yeah, but the angles weren't written,
21:45they weren't noted.
21:45I saw the match on TV. It was broadcast
21:48at the same time. And you watched. If
21:50you saw it, you saw it; if not, that
21:51was it. It was very difficult. Maybe
21:53the development in terms of. Analysis
21:57and the setup. Systems started maybe in
22:012013, 2015. In Egypt. It started for us
22:07here in 2015, before that it didn't
22:10exist. Yes, we could watch the match.
22:12Right.
22:13But not to the extent we watch now. I
22:17prepare a goalkeeper from. At least
22:21five or six matches and different
22:24situations, and I have a specific order
22:27for my keepers, I put them for them.
22:31So he believes and becomes convinced.
22:33Because if he isn't convinced, even if
22:35I brought him one from the left, one
22:37from the right, and one showing how a
22:39goal was scored. You have to put them
22:41in a very good order. Plus, of course,
22:44the performance analyst's work. He does
22:47his job, but we must follow an agenda,
22:51a system. So the goalkeeper believes
22:54what he sees and hears.
22:57Well, after the '95 World Cup, we were
23:00on an upward curve. Meaning from the
23:02'95 Cup time, we were sixth. In '97, we
23:05were sixth. '99 in Egypt, we were
23:06seventh. Until we reached the peak of
23:08the curve, meaning we took fourth place
23:10in the world in France 2001. During
23:12this period, you were, thankfully, in
23:14those four consecutive World Cups. You
23:16were participating and present, as a
23:18starter. How did you see that period
23:21going?
23:21Regarding players, your preparations as
23:24keepers, tournament prep, and at the
23:26time there was also the rush of the
23:28Olympics, Africa, all that.
23:30We, I mean, the time we are in now with
23:34the Egyptian national team, we were in
23:37the exact same period you are talking
23:40about, Momen. First, it was always
23:43stable, always seventh or eighth place.
23:46Right.
23:46We were always participating in a
23:48tournament. There was a tournament
23:49called the Seven Greats tournament,
23:51exactly. We always participated in that
23:53tournament. Always in contact with
23:55strong teams in Europe. Because
23:58actually, after 2001, no, there isn't
24:03that contact with the first tier in
24:07Europe. There is contact, yes, but not
24:10the first tier. There are later teams,
24:13for example, that come to participate
24:15in the Olympics. Always top in Africa.
24:20That period, you maintained it and
24:23supported it with youth teams. Because
24:26you already had a reservoir from the
24:30team we mentioned, the youth team
24:33coming up, born in '72, '74, and '78.
24:39Youth.
24:40Yes, exactly, third place in the youth,
24:42and that is, by the way, maybe the
24:45secret to the success of Egyptian
24:47handball, that they cared about the
24:49youth, not...well, okay, maybe you
24:51could bring Russia, they didn't care
24:54later, they couldn't reach the World
24:56Cup now, or they can't reach the level
24:58we are currently at.
25:00Serbia had strong youth teams and a
25:04system; my point is that whoever cares
25:08for youth teams is the one who keeps
25:12going in this game. And they have a
25:15level, not just in handball, but in...
25:18all sports; as long as you have youth
25:20you support, you are always building a
25:23system. We also had that later, if you
25:27follow what we're saying. Uh, later on,
25:30we did provide support. But there were
25:34some mistakes in that support.
25:36Like, they brought in support all at
25:37once after 2001 and removed everyone
25:39from the old guard at once.
25:41And there was no transfer of experience
25:42like there is now.
25:43You understand that now, because it's
25:46impossible to, say, bring in support
25:49for five or six players across four or
25:52five positions; support should only
25:54happen in one or two spots at most,
25:57like now. I mean, for some positions
26:00now, people say what? They say, "No,
26:02support, no, stabilization; I need to
26:05keep it." Maybe just one element is
26:07added.
26:08Exactly.
26:09The team that exists now.
26:10Exactly.
26:11Meaning, over a period of time, you
26:13start to solve and renew until...
26:15By the way, the most successful model
26:17in this regard is the French team.
26:19Hmm.
26:19You'll see France is one, two.
26:22Yeah, now the whole team has almost
26:24been renewed.
26:25No, but over how long?
26:27Yes, over a period. I mean, they've
26:29finally reached that young average age
26:31they wanted.
26:32I mean, even now, for example,
26:34Karabatic will participate in the next
26:37tournament, and maybe his brother—I
26:40don't know if his brother is on the
26:43list, but surely he must be.
26:45Right, my point is that there are
26:47experienced elements.
26:48They must pass it on.
26:49They are there to support. And by the
26:53way, the youngest one, maybe Brandi,
26:57has played in one or two World Cups.
27:01No, they are young. I mean, this is
27:02also Nadeem. And all of them, they are
27:05all present. Yes, it's hard they are
27:06there. With the veterans. My point is
27:09that you can try that approach. But the
27:12most important thing is how you do it.
27:13Right. Yes, okay, support with youth.
27:16But for us, suddenly five, six, seven
27:19aren't with us anymore. It's...a drop
27:22happens in the team. Before the 2024
27:34Olympics, since it's in France and
27:36France is in our group, it’s not the
27:39same tournament, but it’s similar to
27:41France 2001, and we might bump into
27:43them again in the semifinals. We might
27:45run into them again after the group
27:47stage. So, do you remember the 2001
27:49match against France? That is, of
27:51course, a national team. The 2001 match
27:54, perhaps Egypt remembers it. All of it
27:57. Everywhere I go here in Doha or
28:00outside, they come and remind me of the
28:032001 win.
28:04Exactly, it’s perhaps the most
28:06important—in terms of the World Cup,
28:09it’s the most important match in
28:11Egypt's history, and it's the best step
28:13we've taken so far in World
28:15Championships. As I recall, we were
28:17also, as I said, dreaming in '93. And
28:20in 2001, we lived another dream. That
28:23we would go and win a medal or compete.
28:28But the problem back then was that we
28:30were facing a strong competitor, France
28:33, on their home turf.
28:34Exactly.
28:35That was also one of the difficult
28:37things for us, but I remember there was
28:41a high rate of injuries. Bilal didn't
28:44participate, though Ahmed Bilal was
28:47having a very strong tournament.
28:50El-Rouby was excellent in that match.
28:53Exactly.
28:53Right. By the way, El-Rouby didn't play
28:56any matches at all in the tournament.
28:59Okay.
28:59The first match he played was Russia.
29:01Exactly.
29:02He got a red card maybe in the first
29:05quarter of an hour, the first 16 or 17
29:08minutes.
29:08Exactly.
29:09Right. I came on to finish the match.
29:12Thank God, we succeeded and qualified.
29:15In the semi-final, El-Rouby started
29:17against France. Amazing. He played the
29:20match of his life; he had it locked
29:23down. El-Rouby, by the way, is one of
29:27the most talented goalkeepers in
29:30Egypt's history. I think many people
29:33don't give them their due. But El-Rouby
29:37is one of the most distinguished
29:39keepers I've ever seen in my life. He
29:41played a great match. A turning point,
29:44of course. It was the brother of the
29:47current coach. Yes, Petronjijevic,
29:50exactly.
29:52He hit the ball into his face during a
29:54fast break. And that was, of course,
29:55the turning point. I mean, the match,
29:58we were leading by four in the first
30:02half. The last two minutes, I might be
30:04watching. I remember that match as if
30:06it were yesterday, right. So we kept
30:10missing a lot. Ahmed El-Attash had a
30:12ball that was almost saved or went out.
30:15Someone else also shot a ball. The half
30:17ended with a two-goal lead. Second half
30:20, we brought in El-Rouby, and he was
30:22brilliant again. Up until that time,
30:25everything in the match was changed by
30:30that. Of course, the officiating was,
30:33if the officiating were at the current
30:35level, because there is no manipulation
30:37like before now. There was manipulation
30:39in that match.
30:40It wasn't just manipulation; it was
30:44very clear bias. Even by the rules, if
30:49that ball hit El-Rouby, it should have
30:53been a red card.
30:56Two minutes, exactly. There were many
30:59violations. Our players were being hit
31:02and no fouls were called for us. I mean
31:05, the officiating wasn't at the level
31:08we expected. So, of course, it wasn't
31:11meant to be that day. But you proved to
31:15the world at the time. We also played
31:18for third and fourth place, by the way.
31:20Because that third and fourth-place
31:22game is a problem for us in Egypt. And
31:25the same thing happened, if you notice,
31:27in the Olympics. We go to play for
31:30third and fourth against Spain; they
31:34understand what a medal means.
31:37Exactly.
31:37Even if it's bronze. I mean, even if
31:41it's a bronze medal. They understand
31:43what it means. If I win a bronze medal,
31:45it will go down in history. And I can
31:48build on that to win silver or gold
31:50later. For us, this part is just
31:52sadness. You find a lack of focus. You
31:56find yourself thinking, "I'll just go
31:58check my phone." You saw that we lost
32:00the semi-final. I stay stuck on that
32:02match for two days. While I have to
32:05play a medal match 24 hours later.
32:07Right. Sadness, I sit by myself and
32:11become. Upset and not thinking about
32:14the match that will give me a ranking
32:16or a medal. This specific point we have
32:18to pay attention to. Not just for the
32:20Egypt team. For anyone who plays sports
32:23. That third or fourth place will make
32:25a big difference. You'll be able to
32:27build from there. That's just how
32:29sports are. You lose today and get up
32:31tomorrow. Like, sorry, a fight in the
32:34street. Are you going to train and sit
32:37on the sidewalk crying? Or will you get
32:39up, continue, and fight back? That’s
32:42what I’d like to say, really.
32:44Well, let's talk about after 2001,
32:47about a specific point that isn't easy
32:50to achieve in any sport: the idea of
32:53consistency. You, ماشاء الله,
32:56from 1995 to 2015. At the top level,
33:00you're playing in World Cups.
33:01Exactly, 11 consecutive World Cups.
33:03In the goalkeeper position, a long-term
33:05position. But it still isn't easy to
33:07play for 20 years at a high level with.
33:10Many different generations. And I
33:12believe you witnessed from 1995 to 2015
33:14several generations with you in goal.
33:17With you on the national team, and you
33:18were constant. I mean, I think when the
33:20Egypt national team list for the World
33:21Cup was being put together, your name
33:23was put first, then the rest.
33:24Thank God. Of course, thank God. It's
33:26God's grace first and foremost, and.
33:29Thank God, God has blessed me a lot in
33:32this regard. Of course, as we were.
33:34Talking before we went on air. We were
33:37saying that it is grace and luck. Thank
33:41God, God helped me. To continue on the
33:44Egypt team. Thank God, you know. I
33:47might not like to talk about myself.
33:50But with my teammates, in training, I
33:53don't spare anyone, Moamen. I mean,
33:56seriously, no one could challenge me or
33:59keep up with me in training. It’s not
34:02my teammates 'fault, by the way. My
34:03teammates train hard too and are very
34:05good, ماشاء الله. But I. I
34:08would give my all in that training, and
34:11then it’s up to God’s grace whether
34:15I’m the one on the pitch or my
34:17teammate is on the pitch. I like this
34:21part, that my intention for my teammate
34:24is just like it is for me. Maybe even
34:26better than me. I want him, when he’s
34:29on the field, for me to cheer for him.
34:31And maybe we were in. Beginning of 2015
34:35, 2013, Karim was there, or whoever.
34:39Whoever was older, and a younger
34:43goalkeeper might come along. Maybe they
34:47don't get along, or the opposite. My
34:50relationship with Karim was great, and
34:52I was always, always, Karim was
34:54hardworking. I mean, the same thing I
34:57was doing, he was doing. So I like that
35:01. And the same with other goalkeepers,
35:03I don't mean.
35:04Just Karim.
35:05Karim. And he was calm. And El-Sayed
35:07Mohamed. He was at Al Ahly club before
35:09them. And then Felfel. Felfel played
35:12with me in the 2015 World Cup, Felfel
35:14is there. On the field, sometimes he
35:16wouldn't play in the tournament, he
35:19wouldn't participate, but I still loved
35:22for him to be there and would cheer for
35:24him and do this and that.
35:26Alright, regarding the idea of training
35:29, so people can understand that 20
35:31years in the World Cup isn’t easy,
35:33how important is training exactly? You
35:35say you don't go easy on anyone in
35:37training; how so?
35:39Well, I didn't just start training when
35:42I began those 20 years.
35:43No, certainly from before.
35:44At 12 years old, I set a program for
35:47myself. I would go run on the beach in
35:50Alexandria on the sand for a very long
35:52time. I don’t even want to tell you
35:55about the training outside of that,
35:58like going to the Olympic Club
36:00bleachers. The bleachers, the bleachers
36:02. Players nowadays might say no to
36:04those bleachers. "I can't climb the
36:06bleachers.""It'll give me a cruciate
36:09ligament injury," right or wrong? "Or
36:11at the very least, cartilage wear."
36:13But I used to climb them. I would climb
36:16the big football stadium bleachers, you
36:19know the ones. Hurdles, they've
36:21actually banned them now in hurdles
36:23training. The meter-high hurdles and
36:26all that, I used to do it all by myself
36:29. I mean, thank God, I am satisfied,
36:32thank God. But my body still complains
36:35about those things to this day. However
36:39, thank God, just as I worked hard, I
36:42received what I received, and I am
36:45satisfied with it. My point is that the
36:48work being done now is what we see
36:50currently, by the way. The current
36:52generation is doing it, but more
36:54modernly, of course. Ali Zein, you see
36:56them in their stories and their
36:59training sessions. Ali, Hamad, El-Ahmar
37:02, and all those guys. And Yehia
37:05El-Deraa, they kill themselves in the
37:07gyms on their own. That’s the same
37:10concept I used to follow.
37:12But the evolution now is the same
37:15system they are following. He goes and
37:18spends an hour and a half in the gym by
37:19himself. His shirt is soaked, people
37:22around him are watching him. But he is
37:24working himself to death in training.
37:25He has a goal in front of him that he
37:27wants to reach. That’s why these
37:29people have reached success. That’s
37:31why, thank God, I had 20 years on the
37:33Egypt national team, and I hope that
37:36the generation...The young ones, this
37:38rising small generation, hopefully,
37:41they will be good. And hopefully, they
37:43will become great players, but they
37:46must adopt this approach in their lives
37:48.
37:48Well, who from the young generation do
37:50you see being able to reach 11 World
37:51Cups, whether a goalkeeper or a player?
37:53I don't know, Karim...no, Karim is the
37:56closest, maybe the closest of those
37:58currently there.
38:00Okay.
38:00Because Karim started with us around
38:032011 maybe, and Mamdouh started in 2009
38:05.
38:062009 with us in Croatia, exactly. You
38:09have a good memory. Karim might have
38:11started, what, 2015? 2013?
38:13I think he was there in 2011.
38:15He was there for Sweden, I think, the
38:16one during the time of the revolution.
38:18Yes, that’s right, 2011. Exactly, you
38:20...
38:20Well, thank God.
38:22Right, it was me, him, and Hady. Me,
38:25Karim, and Hady. That’s exactly right
38:28, you’re spot on.
38:30Yes, so the one currently there who
38:33could continue is Karim.
38:36Is there any other player who could get
38:37close?
38:38Was Ali with us then, or was he not?
38:39Ali had an injury.
38:40No, Ali had a breakdown. He got injured
38:43during that specific tournament.
38:46Mamdouh was there with us too, though
38:49Mamdouh is a bit further away
38:51internationally now.
38:53Alright, let’s go back to the
38:55competition aspect. You said you always
38:58wish the best for those alongside you,
39:01and that training is crucial. But
39:04you’ve seen many generations. Who was
39:07it that you felt you were on the same
39:09wavelength with? Someone who,
39:10especially when there were no goalie
39:12coaches, helped you prepare or during
39:15the matches themselves. Who was the
39:17person you felt was an ideal partner,
39:19not necessarily just one specific
39:21person?
39:22It could be a few, but who was the most
39:23comfortable?
39:23Well, certainly Ayman. Ayman helped us
39:26a great deal.
39:27Right.
39:27Exactly. After that, Al-Roubi and I
39:30spent a long time in the national team.
39:32Al-Roubi got injured later on; he had a
39:34shoulder injury.
39:36Right.
39:36True. Then there was Karim Hendawy;
39:40El-Sayed was with me for a while, and
39:43Walid Abdel-Maksoud was with us too.
39:46They all spent a lot of time with me.
39:50Karim stayed from 2011 to 2015, as we
39:53said.
39:54Three tournaments.
39:56Because nobody else...Ayman, I only
39:57played one tournament with him.
39:59It was in '95.
40:00No, I played in '95 and '97, just two
40:03tournaments. But then, for example,
40:05Al-Roubi—I played with him for a long
40:08time, as I told you.
40:09Right.
40:10And then Karim—Karim and I spent a
40:12lot of time together.
40:15I hear Karim wants to enter the
40:17competition with...
40:18Yes, Karim.
40:19Yes, he wants to reach a certain age.
40:22Well, that is definitely a good thing.
40:23And he is doing great, ماشاء
40:24الله. Perhaps this is a chance; he
40:27is a great model for the current
40:29goalkeepers. He trains hard and is very
40:32diligent, ماشاء الله. He's
40:35alert, meaning he’s intelligent.
40:36Because a goalkeeper needs intelligence
40:40. If a goalkeeper, sorry to say, lacks
40:43intelligence, it becomes a huge problem
40:46.
40:46So, how does intelligence help him, for
40:47instance?
40:48Intelligence, of course. Intelligence
40:49is vital. First, you are reading the
40:50player in front of you. There is a game
40:53between you and him. Who will win that
40:55game? Exactly. Is it your intelligence
40:58or his? There are players, as we say,
41:01who are reckless and shoot anywhere.
41:04Exactly. If you are smart, you deal
41:06with him smartly. Like moving out to
41:08him a bit earlier. The ball goes to him
41:11in a specific way that you’ve already
41:13anticipated in your head. Do you go
41:15just by force, or do you actually see
41:18the ball to save it? If you see it,
41:20you’ve handled it with intelligence.
41:21You moved early and knew how to save
41:23the ball. Actually, it’s like that
41:24for all positions. From the wing. A
41:28winger moves in, opens his hand a
41:30certain way; I, as a goalkeeper, know
41:32how to deal with him. Or am I just
41:34standing there blindly, moving out
41:36without seeing the ball or
41:37understanding what's happening? No.
41:39Intelligence actually applies to many
41:40things. So, it’s an open topic.
41:43Well, you’ve been through several
41:45generations in the national team.
41:47Starting from your generation, '74,
41:49then every so often, a somewhat
41:51distinguished generation would emerge
41:53and carry on—from '74, maybe '78 for
41:55the Youth World Cup, then '84, a
41:57generation that lasted a while,
41:59especially when you won the African
42:01title.
42:02Exactly, when you won the 2008 African
42:04title in Tunisia, and also '88 and the
42:05beginning of the nineties. You
42:07witnessed all of them; which generation
42:08did you see as truly special and having
42:10many high-quality elements?
42:11No, the really good generation, I think
42:14, was the '88 one.
42:16The one that came at the end, the Karim
42:17one.
42:18Mamdouh, Karim, El-Masry, and...
42:20And Ali Zein and Sanad.
42:21And Ali and Sanad? No, Sanad, maybe '90
42:24, wasn't...
42:25Well, Ali and Sanad were '90, but both
42:26played in the '88 squad.
42:28Ali, yes.
42:29Sanad played, yes, I swear Sanad played
42:32. Maybe I...what’s his name, what’s
42:35his name? Naeim.
42:36Mahmoud Fayez.
42:37Mahmoud Fayez, Naeim, yes exactly,
42:39that’s who I remember from...
42:40Well, Fayez and Sanad were both
42:42right-wings, yes, and Sanad and Ali
42:43were the ones from the '90 generation
42:45in that tournament.
42:46Exactly. I mean, this generation is the
42:48one that fueled everything. Just like,
42:50if you notice, what I told you at the
42:52very beginning. I feel like what’s
42:55happening in the national team now has
42:57happened to us before. We, the '72
42:59generation, are the ones who fueled the
43:02national teams. The '88 generation is
43:04the one that served the team during
43:06that whole period, the Egypt national
43:08team. Whether it was Karim, Mamdouh, or
43:11Ali. Perhaps this whole generation is
43:14the one that gave the push. And then,
43:16of course, Yehia El-Deraa and Yehia
43:18Khaled are the ones who continued it.
43:20Okay, since you were the team captain
43:22for long periods, you surely have your
43:23own specific routines. So, what’s the
43:25secret behind the coffee, the
43:26newspapers, and all that?
43:28No, we are, of course...But...I usually
43:32, I mean, we usually have two training
43:34sessions a day. And we spend a very
43:37long time in training camps and things
43:39like that. So, thank God...They are the
43:43ones who are there. The staff that
43:45stays, the ones in the hotel, I mean.
43:47They become friends of mine. So I
43:51always need that tea. Must have tea or
43:54coffee before training. Tea.
43:56It has to be at specific times, at 4
43:58o'clock, this guy comes, the one who
44:00brings it, and he sits with me a bit
44:03and drinks with me, and whoever is
44:05staying in the room with me drinks with
44:07me. I’m the type who wakes up early.
44:10And since I’m up early, I have to get
44:13going and buy the newspaper. The daily
44:15newspaper. I sit and read the world
44:18news and the news about...So these are
44:20routines that I love. I...Sleep early.
44:23I don’t like staying up late, for
44:25example. In my whole life, for instance
44:28, ask me how many days I’ve stayed up
44:30late in my life? They could be counted
44:33on the fingers of one hand. So thank
44:36God, this is something from the
44:38training camp as well. And I choose my
44:40roommate, you know. I like the room to
44:43be clean. It should smell nice, you
44:46know. All that kind of stuff. So,
44:48honestly, I choose who stays with me.
44:51That’s your right, honestly. Okay,
45:01let's move to your Olympic and
45:03consistent performance, mashallah, with
45:05the national team. But the whole Paris
45:07Saint-Germain story around 2008 or
45:09after the 2008 Beijing Olympics—how
45:11did that signing actually happen? At
45:13the time it was Paris, just so people
45:14understand. Paris was a team in the
45:16French league, but it wasn't yet under
45:18the ownership or the entity that Paris
45:19Saint-Germain has now, right?
45:21Or is it the same?
45:24It was called Paris Handball, and they
45:25were playing in the French first
45:26division.
45:27Yes, in the first division. As for
45:29their position, no, I played in a
45:30tournament, not the Champions League.
45:32It was the EHF Cup, I believe.
45:34Yes, the EHF Cup, because the year I
45:37went, they were the cup winners.
45:40Okay.
45:40They were the cup holders, and I played
45:43in the EHF tournament, and we played
45:45some matches, maybe we reached the
45:47semifinals.
45:48So how did the signing actually come
45:50about?
45:50Honestly, the signing came through
45:52Anouar Ayed.
45:53Anouar Ayed, the left winger for the
45:55Tunisian national team.
45:57And he’s a goalscorer, of course. Yes
46:00, in the league over the years, by the
46:01way.
46:02Exactly.
46:03Right, and he has a reputation there.
46:05Honestly, he recommended me after the
46:082008 Africa Cup.
46:10Which was in Angola.
46:11The one in Angola. I won Best
46:13Goalkeeper in Africa in 2008. By the
46:16way, I officially won it twice.
46:19Officially, best goalkeeper in Africa.
46:22Okay.
46:23In 2006 in Tunisia and 2008.
46:27In Angola.
46:28Right, maybe in some tournaments, the
46:31awards for the best players or the "
46:33best seven" weren't as well-defined as
46:36they are now.
46:37But I officially, by the way...
46:41Calculate it, Moamen: who from Egypt
46:44won Best Goalkeeper in Africa?
46:47No, there really isn't...
46:48There isn't.
46:49Yeah, even in the last few years, we
46:50haven't been winning that goalie award.
46:52Unfortunately not, as far as I've seen,
46:55anyway. Maybe someone before me.
46:57Maybe.
46:58God knows. Anyway, in that period,
47:002006-2008, I played in that tournament,
47:02and thank God, there was success from
47:04God. We qualified for the Olympics and
47:07I played well in the Olympics. So,
47:09honestly, what helped me there was
47:11Anouar Ayed. He introduced me to an
47:13agent, because that whole thing was
47:16difficult. For us, and thank God things
47:18worked out with the club. And the club
47:21let me go, after a lot of struggle, of
47:23course.
47:24They were negotiating with the Olympic
47:25Club first.
47:25Exactly. And by coincidence, that year
47:28I was a free agent, or I was finishing
47:30the season the following year, and I
47:32hadn't written or signed a contract.
47:35Okay.
47:35So I made the decision and traveled
47:39there. Honestly, when I went there, I
47:43was 34 or 35 years old. It was a bit
47:47tough, first with the language.
47:50Right.
47:51Yes, learning French at 34 is a bit
47:54hard. Secondly, the weather was very
47:57cold there, you know, the temperature
48:01could really tire you out. Thirdly, the
48:04training effort—you have to study,
48:08and you have to train in the morning
48:11and afternoon.
48:13The rhythm was high and different from
48:14what I was used to.
48:14A high rhythm at 34 or 35 years old. So
48:17I was faced with a choice: should I
48:20continue there? Or was it Al Ahly? And
48:25Al Shorta had come in with a very good
48:28offer, better than Al Ahly. And maybe
48:30this is also, I don't want to call it a
48:32mistake. But everything is fate. So, I
48:34preferred at the time, no, let me not
48:38go to Al Ahly. Because they scared me,
48:40they told me the pressure on you at Al
48:42Ahly would be high. And they will
48:44single you out. You’ll be the one
48:46bearing all the responsibilities. So,
48:48of course, it was, maybe it was a wrong
48:50choice on my part. There wasn’t
48:52enough luck or...
48:53Do you see that the Al Ahly step would
48:54have been better?
48:54Of course, definitely, of course,
48:56because there were many offers before
48:58it and during that time.
49:00And before that, you had participated
49:01in 2007 in the Club World Cup, and you
49:03were the best keeper in the tournament.
49:05I was truly the best goalkeeper in the
49:07tournament. Yes, so it was an
49:09opportunity that, I mean, was better,
49:11but these things...I am 100 percent
49:13sure. It’s destiny, it’s destiny,
49:15it’s destiny. Well, in the French
49:17league. You played about 26 matches,
49:20for example. The save percentage was
49:22good, meaning 30%. 160 saves in. All
49:25the matches; a good percentage, and I
49:27think the competition you had was with
49:29Anouar, right? Anouar, indeed, right?
49:31He stayed for a while with Paris even
49:32when...
49:33He is the goalkeeping coach now at
49:35Paris Saint-Germain.
49:36Exactly, and he is one of the people
49:37with a heavy reputation, honestly.
49:39Historically, right?
49:40Exactly, so you competed with him, and
49:42despite your older age at that time,
49:44different climatic conditions, and
49:46different training loads, how did you
49:48manage to get through all of that? And
49:50also, what was the league like in
49:52general? Unlike your time here with the
49:54Olympic club as a league.
49:56Over there, the league, its rhythm, and
49:58its speed were all strong professionals
49:59.
50:00Maybe the smallest club had five or six
50:03professionals; I had, at the time,
50:05Sorrendo.
50:06Sorrendo, exactly, he was just emerging
50:08in Paris.
50:08Yes, exactly, and there was Nicolas,
50:10the right back, who went to the
50:12national team and won an Olympic medal
50:14with them with the French national team
50:16. There was Nicolas Claire, who was a
50:18center half, and he was one of the best
50:20players, exactly, he was still young.
50:22And he was still young, exactly. On the
50:24contrary, I see it as just an
50:26experience. But I should have, I mean
50:30the thing that, I mean, bothers me a
50:33little, is that I should have taken
50:36this experience to the end. I don’t
50:40advise anyone to start an experience
50:43and not finish it. You must go in,
50:45continue, struggle through it, and give
50:48it your all. And if it doesn't work out
50:50after that, then so be it. But as you
50:52said, it was an experience I went
50:54through. And maybe after I returned, it
50:57was exactly one of the best years of my
51:00life at that time. 34, my experience
51:03was complete. I have confidence in my
51:08capabilities. I played professionally
51:12abroad, and my value increased in Egypt
51:14. So it was a period that I also liked.
51:19I won a cup with, perhaps with Police.
51:22We were competing for third place in
51:24the league.
51:24When you returned from Paris.
51:26From Paris. Yes, Hany El-Fakharany was
51:28also back from Fuchse Berlin at the
51:30time. He joined us, and we had a very
51:32good team. I mean, Omar Haggag was one
51:35of the players. I mean, the whole team
51:38was full of great players now. If we
51:39mention them, they are players of
51:42stature. Alright. So it is an
51:43experience, yes. I could calculate it
51:46as, I mean, not very successful. But it
51:51benefited me, too.
51:52Okay, that's great. I wanted to ask you
51:54about some simple things regarding the
51:56goalkeeper position itself.
51:58Go ahead.
51:59In terms of goalkeeping, it’s
52:01possible in matches for a keeper not to
52:03be successful, even if they prepared
52:05well, are ready, and everything, but
52:07they're just not having a good day.
52:09How do you get yourself back into the
52:11match? Especially if your profile is
52:13higher than your backup, so the backup
52:15won't get a chance in an important
52:16match.
52:17You have to finish the whole match, but
52:19at the same time, you're not doing well
52:21and you need to get your team back into
52:23the game.
52:25Well, I advise any goalkeeper who isn't
52:27having a good match: Take a moment and
52:29sit out for five minutes. They’ll
52:32come back, and everything will be fine.
52:35Let go of it, because someone not doing
52:38well is often just putting too much
52:41pressure on themselves. Too much
52:43responsibility, because they trained
52:45well, as you said. Their level in
52:47normal matches is fine. Today they're
52:49unlucky, so my first advice is, stay
52:52calm. And remember to get feedback on
52:56my mistakes in the match. What did I
52:59say? What was I studying? Am I going
53:02for the ball late? Am I not raising my
53:04hands? Is it my technique? Is my
53:08reaction not fast enough on the balls
53:10I'm dealing with? Get that feedback
53:12during the five minutes I'm sitting out
53:15, exactly. If I can get advice from a
53:18coach, that would be good. If I can't,
53:22I advise myself. Because any player,
53:24any goalkeeper, is a coach inside
53:27themselves. They are more of a coach
53:29than an actual coach, and maybe people
53:31aren't aware of this. No, the coach is
53:33the goalkeeper themselves. They are a
53:36goalkeeper and a coach to themselves.
53:38They are the person who knows their
53:40psychological state best. By the way,
53:42there were times I’d go into a match
53:45knowing I wouldn't make any saves.
53:47Because I could feel my own state.
53:50Tired, unable, unfocused. Exactly,
53:55I’d put that thought in my head. I
53:57feel it today, has this happened to you
53:59? You’re a goalkeeper and you know.
54:01Has it happened that you’re going to
54:02the match and telling yourself while
54:04riding...
54:05Whatever you’re taking to the match,
54:07the bus, while you’re on the bus you
54:09tell yourself, "I feel like today I
54:11won't make any saves." It happens a lot
54:13, exactly.
54:14So the goalkeeper is a coach who can
54:17bring themselves back; if they don't,
54:20the match is over, so they shouldn't
54:23dwell on it.
54:25Alright, were there specific national
54:27teams or teams you felt you were
54:29unlucky against or didn't want to play
54:31against?
54:32Most of the Scandinavian teams. I...
54:39Their style is obviously very difficult
54:40in terms of shooting. And in striking,
54:42and in overall play. So it makes things
54:44difficult. But of course, it's a sport
54:48and...When you enter a competition,
54:51success comes with it. In the Denmark
54:54match at the Sydney Olympics, no, the
54:57Beijing Olympics.
54:58Beijing was the first match, I think.
54:59The first match we drew, and in that
55:03match, I think I made 19 saves.
55:07I believe in that match we were even
55:08close to winning; we were...
55:09We were closer, I mean, we were leading
55:13throughout the match. Denmark, as I’m
55:17telling you now, I don’t like playing
55:22against them.
55:23Alright, were there teams you liked
55:24playing against, where you felt you had
55:26the upper hand?
55:27France, I liked them. Germany, I loved
55:30playing against them. The whole history
55:32with them, thank God, I had so many
55:35saves. Even though Germany, by the way,
55:38was stronger back then than they are
55:40now.
55:41Yeah, but of course, there are teams
55:44where you feel confident, where you
55:46believe in yourself that you can play,
55:49make saves, and win the game for your
55:52team.
55:53Alright, let’s go back, sorry. Since
55:55you said you’re a goalie, I
55:56couldn’t find a better chance to ask
55:58you about many things regarding the
56:00position. And also so that people can
56:02honestly learn from it. Regarding a
56:03point...Is there a spot on the pitch
56:05where you don’t like shots coming
56:07from? Or if you're in a match, and you
56:10see a specific player is getting the
56:12better of you, how do you try to handle
56:15that?
56:15Look, when I’m playing and when I’m
56:17coaching keepers...
56:19I like players who come at me from the
56:21six-meter line, coming between the one
56:24and two positions.
56:25Okay.
56:26Because I know how to cover that area
56:29or that specific spot.
56:32Same thing with the wings.
56:34Okay.
56:35The winger cutting inside, just let him
56:38.
56:38Right, exactly. On the contrary,
56:41sometimes I tell the defender, "Let the
56:44winger go," whether he's left-handed or
56:47right-handed. Let him cut in, for
56:50instance, in many situations where
56:53I’m outnumbered in defense.
56:56Okay.
56:56I choose, I decide, let him shoot from
56:59outside, from 9 or 10 meters. But of
57:02course, I prefer for my keeper that
57:05it’s a winger cutting in, even with
57:08an open angle. That’s a tactic we see
57:10among coaches nowadays. At times when
57:13it’s crunch time and I need to close
57:16the gap in the score. I leave that
57:19space from the wing to the goalkeeper,
57:22and the goalkeeper chooses which side,
57:25left or right.
57:26And who he knows he can play against. I
57:29don’t have to stick to one spot. Let
57:33the left back shoot if I feel I can
57:36save it, react to the ball, and get it.
57:39If so, let him shoot.
57:41And conversely, if someone looks like
57:43they're on fire today and I can’t
57:44stop them, then they shouldn't shoot.
57:46I start talking to the defense.
57:47That’s a point, that’s definitely a
57:48point. There must be communication
57:50between the goalkeeper and the defense
57:53in front of him. And this is one of the
57:55reasons for the success of big teams.
57:57We must pay close attention to it in
58:01our team training. It’s not just
58:04about the goalkeeper standing between
58:06the three posts and that’s it. No, I
58:08must create communication between him
58:12and my defense. Especially the two who
58:15are in the middle. Because they carry
58:18all the weight. They are the ones
58:19facing the players. So the goalkeeper
58:22must always communicate with them.
58:24Do you think a goalkeeper needs a
58:27specific physical build, or if they
58:29have the skill, is that fine and we can
58:32work with it?
58:33No, I belong to the school of thought
58:35that they must have a build.
58:36Even if they have good skill, even if
58:38they have the skill...what kind of
58:39skill?
58:40For example, right now, take Emil
58:42Nielsen, the Denmark goalkeeper who had
58:45a great Euro tournament and helped
58:48Barcelona win the Champions League.
58:50His physique isn't ideal for sports in
58:52general.
58:53No, those with that physique play
58:54sports because he's very strong.
58:55But from the beginning, if you saw him
58:58from afar, you wouldn't say he could be
59:00a goalkeeper or play at a high level.
59:02Yet he has the skill; even from the
59:04time he started, you could feel he had
59:06talent.
59:06Let me ask you a question: how tall is
59:07he?
59:08No, he's tall.
59:08Well, that settles it. I side with the
59:10school of thought that selects based on
59:13that. Because that’s who will last.
59:15Look at Denmark, for instance. They are
59:19a very big country in handball. They
59:22don't have short goalkeepers. You might
59:24find some short goalkeepers there. But
59:26who among them is fit for international
59:28play? You'll find Nils, for example.
59:30You'll find...Because you won't find
59:35the tall, massive profile there.
59:38Exactly.
59:39Well, Mattias Andersson, I don't think
59:41he was that tall.
59:42Mattias Andersson, you'll find he's
59:43also not less than 190 or 192 cm.
59:46But...
59:46Mattias Andersson has a massive body
59:49first, and he's very strong and tall.
59:53So, for example, the short guy—how
59:56tall is he?
59:57Maybe 185, for instance. You mean that
59:59although he's short, he has...
1:00:00186 isn't short, by the way. 186 isn't
1:00:03short.
1:00:04But I don't mean height as much as the
1:00:06physique; from the start, he doesn't
1:00:08look like a keeper, yet he has the
1:00:10skill.
1:00:10Yeah, no. I choose the one with the
1:00:13physique, because I can build on that.
1:00:15And I can develop him properly more
1:00:18than a keeper who has a small frame or
1:00:20is short. If you're talking about him
1:00:24being heavy or overweight, that's
1:00:26another matter. But I'm talking about
1:00:29my standard: I must have him tall and
1:00:31strong-bodied. Because when you go to
1:00:33choose a keeper...The position has
1:00:34specific specifications that you must
1:00:36choose for. And these are things
1:00:38coaches must work on during selection.
1:00:41Not later on...Searching for who is a
1:00:44goalkeeper after I've started the team
1:00:47...Starting the youth team and then
1:00:50five years later looking for a
1:00:53goalkeeper? No, I choose from the very
1:00:55beginning. When I pick the team, there
1:00:58must be specific elements set for the
1:01:01young goalkeeper.
1:01:02Alright, last thing: tell me about a
1:01:04match you remember the details of and
1:01:06feel was one of the best matches you
1:01:08played, or if there are several, tell
1:01:10me which ones you truly consider your
1:01:12best.
1:01:13Honestly, I'll tell you something. We
1:01:15might have mentioned the 2007 Club
1:01:17World Cup.
1:01:18Okay.
1:01:19The final was against...Ciudad Real,
1:01:23exactly.
1:01:24I went about 12 or 13 minutes, I
1:01:26remember exactly, without conceding a
1:01:29goal.
1:01:29Okay.
1:01:30In that match, so it's one of the
1:01:33matches that is perhaps etched in my
1:01:36memory.
1:01:37Maybe at that time, the Al Ahly fans
1:01:39were filling the arena, and it ended
1:01:41with a one-goal win for the team.
1:01:43Exactly, exactly, and Ciudad Real was
1:01:45one of the strongest teams at the time;
1:01:47they were the European champions, after
1:01:49all.
1:01:50Exactly.
1:01:51Right, and of course, maybe the match
1:01:53against Tunisia in Angola.
1:01:552008.
1:01:562008, I mean, of course, I always say
1:02:00there are matches that crown your
1:02:03efforts. This might be one of those. I
1:02:07was injured during that tournament,
1:02:11early on, but I pushed through and kept
1:02:15going. Thank God, I was named best
1:02:19goalkeeper in Africa.
1:02:21So, that is one of those matches, and
1:02:23there are many international games.
1:02:25Maybe, without interrupting, I mean.
1:02:27But the Tunisia match was important
1:02:29because. I think the national team
1:02:31generation at the time was younger for.
1:02:35And Tunisia was ranked fourth in the
1:02:38world. They had many great players. And
1:02:40they were the favorites, too. It was
1:02:41also an Olympic qualifier, so. I think
1:02:44we were losing by four in the first
1:02:46half.
1:02:46We were losing by five, the half was
1:02:49already four, I think? Exactly.
1:02:52But it reached five, and they
1:02:54controlled the match from start to
1:02:57finish.
1:02:58The second half, thank God, it was a
1:03:01blessing from God and support from my
1:03:04teammates, because a goalkeeper can't
1:03:06do anything alone, and of course, the
1:03:09prayers of my parents and my wife.
1:03:11Definitely.
1:03:12Because, by the way, that part is a
1:03:15huge factor in sports. As I tell you,
1:03:18you have things on the pitch, but there
1:03:22are psychological factors and the rest
1:03:25of your life at home. With your wife,
1:03:28with your children. With them currently
1:03:31, and before that. With your father and
1:03:33mother. So all of them are a support
1:03:36system for you, so. It has a very big
1:03:38influence, I mean.
1:03:39What other matches do you remember?
1:03:41Maybe globally, for example, at the
1:03:46Olympics, I recall the Denmark match in
1:03:512008.
1:03:52Olympics, the first match.
1:03:53Exactly, at the Olympic Games in Sydney
1:03:57.
1:03:57Right.
1:03:58I played all those matches. The Germany
1:04:00match, I played a great game. Right.
1:04:03There was a match in the group stage
1:04:06that qualified us. For the next round.
1:04:10So, matches, thank God. There were many
1:04:13matches, honestly. In Athens, for
1:04:15example, the France match. Right, the
1:04:17France match. Also in the group stage
1:04:20at the world level in 2001. The Algeria
1:04:25match that got us to the quarter-finals
1:04:28before the Russia match. I mean, my
1:04:32memory isn't fully pulling everything
1:04:35together. But there are matches, thank
1:04:37God. Thank God. Thank God. Alright,
1:04:38before we go to the games phase, we
1:04:40will play a few simple things.
1:04:42Your last period with clubs was about
1:04:44three or four years with Sporting.
1:04:46Exactly, maybe most of the Sporting
1:04:49generation that just won the Egypt Cup
1:04:51recently had just come up and played
1:04:53with you for a bit.
1:04:54Even the '96 and '90 generations, and
1:04:56the generations present. But the point
1:04:58is, everyone at the time. Was truly
1:05:01celebrating. That they were playing
1:05:03with a name like yours. And everyone
1:05:05was saying that he. Captain Hamada is
1:05:07here. He plays with passion, ambition,
1:05:10and effort. Like a player who is 20
1:05:11years old. So, it was a difficult
1:05:13situation. Tell us how the experience
1:05:15itself was. And you even played Africa
1:05:17with them. So, how did things go?
1:05:19It was a great experience. Like you
1:05:23said, Moamen, even to this day, I’m
1:05:27still in touch with 70%or 80%of the
1:05:32players who are still around.
1:05:35Always in touch, honestly, Youssef.
1:05:38Because Youssef hasn't changed in 10
1:05:41years; same system, same play. He’s a
1:05:45hardworking player who deserves more
1:05:48than this. We really wanted him with us
1:05:51at Al-Sadd Club last year.
1:05:54But it wasn't possible.
1:05:56The rest of the players. It was an
1:05:58experience that I see, thank God. It
1:06:01was a culmination, really. Sporting
1:06:04Club, after the time. That we were in,
1:06:09or back then. We won, perhaps, our
1:06:11second or third league title. We got
1:06:13third in Africa, second in the Egypt
1:06:16Cup, perhaps. Along with that was Abdel
1:06:18Salam, Mohamed Abdel Salam, the coach.
1:06:21And Sporting continued in the state it
1:06:25was in. Sporting had a history before
1:06:27that, but. Sporting wasn't like the
1:06:30period you attended.
1:06:32Like the period that started from that
1:06:34time, you know.
1:06:35Exactly.
1:06:36So, I am proud of that period, and
1:06:39thank God it was a culmination of my
1:06:42efforts throughout the years I played
1:06:45sports. Thank God, Sporting is a big
1:06:48club too. Okay, we are going to play a
1:07:01few simple games.
1:07:02Alright.
1:07:03Some simple and fun games.
1:07:05No, no, they're simple, really.
1:07:07Okay, the first game is called "Blind
1:07:09Ranking." I'll give you five names, and
1:07:11you rank them from one to five. I'll
1:07:14say a name, and you tell me what number
1:07:16it is. Then another name, and so on.
1:07:19The first question will be regarding
1:07:21goalkeepers. Okay, just ranking
1:07:23goalkeepers. The first name is Hamada
1:07:25El-Roubi. What number would you give
1:07:27him? Hamada El-Roubi, let's say three.
1:07:30Okay, Bassem El-Sobky.
1:07:31Five, right? Five, so I put.
1:07:33Five, yes.
1:07:34I mean, I haven't watched Bassem
1:07:36El-Sobky much, honestly.
1:07:37Because Bassem.
1:07:39Let's say five.
1:07:40Karim Hendawy.
1:07:41Karim Hendawy, Karim Hendawy could be
1:07:45number two.
1:07:46Okay, Khaled El-Aty. Khaled El-Aty, so
1:07:48he and Bassem are, for example, fourth
1:07:51and fifth, right?
1:07:52Correct. Okay, Ayman Salah.
1:07:54No, that's one.
1:07:55Okay.
1:07:55Ayman Salah.
1:07:56That’s it, it's a nice game, things
1:07:58went well, and it's simple. Okay, the
1:08:01second ranking will be for field
1:08:03players. Very good.
1:08:04Okay, the first name is Ali Zein.
1:08:06Ali Zein is number two.
1:08:08Okay, Sameh Abdel Wareth.
1:08:10Sameh, we can put him at number three.
1:08:13Okay, Hussein Zaky.
1:08:15Concorde. No, of course, Hussein, of
1:08:19course. We could put him...since
1:08:23El-Ahmar is there.
1:08:24I don't know.
1:08:27Because I don't know.
1:08:28Because I want El-Ahmar at number one,
1:08:29honestly.
1:08:30Okay, tell me what number Hussein Zaky
1:08:32is then.
1:08:32Hussein...well, we only have...
1:08:35There are only four and five left.
1:08:36Since there’s four, then four, of
1:08:37course.
1:08:37Okay, Captain Ahmed El-Attar.
1:08:40Ahmed El-Attar is five.
1:08:41Okay, and Ahmed El-Ahmar is the last
1:08:42one.
1:08:43Number one, of course. No, I just want
1:08:45to say that Ahmed El-Ahmar gave Egypt
1:08:48something that perhaps no other player
1:08:51has given, honestly. Because he didn't
1:08:55just influence handball. He influenced
1:08:58generations after generations of the
1:09:01sport. Exactly. So, I mean. I don't
1:09:04just want to talk about technical
1:09:06aspects. But he also brought popularity
1:09:09to the game. Everyone loves him. People
1:09:12love watching him. People learn from
1:09:15him. So he gave the sport a great deal,
1:09:17really. Picking him as number one
1:09:19isn’t just about the technical side.
1:09:20Yeah, do you think anyone was close to
1:09:23him as an Egyptian player, or is he in
1:09:25a league of his own?
1:09:26Not really, he’s considered unique.
1:09:29Honestly, Egypt has produced other
1:09:31names we’ve already mentioned.
1:09:33Hussein Zaki, obviously, later on.
1:09:35Hussein Zaki gave a lot to the Egyptian
1:09:36national team. In our time, there was
1:09:38Hassan Yousry. Ashraf Awaad. I don’t
1:09:42want to leave anyone out. Mahmoud
1:09:43Hussein, by the way. There are so many
1:09:45great players. Al-Attar. Ahmed Belal.
1:09:48All those guys. Gohar. Gohar, by the
1:09:51way, is one of the best players to come
1:09:53out of Egypt, honestly. Or, let's say,
1:09:56to play the pivot position in Egypt and
1:09:58the world. I really don't want to
1:10:00forget anyone. It’s a sensitive topic
1:10:04; there's a generation that gave Egypt
1:10:06a lot but was overlooked by the media.
1:10:09There is Yehia El-Deraa now, of course.
1:10:11Yehia, by the way, is...One of the
1:10:14players who created a real breakthrough
1:10:15. Because most of the time, our
1:10:18playstyle relied on the playmaker. Not
1:10:22a shooter, not a real scorer; exactly,
1:10:25when Davis came.
1:10:26He started to change that.
1:10:27He started to change that, using Yehia
1:10:31El-Deraa as a scorer, which helped the
1:10:35rest of the team score too, so there
1:10:38are several players.
1:10:40Okay, last question regarding the
1:10:42ranking, it will be about goalkeepers,
1:10:44but not Egyptian ones.
1:10:45Great.
1:10:45Alright, first name: Landin.
1:10:47Landin, I rank him as number one right
1:10:50now, of course.
1:10:52But I will put him at number two, for
1:10:53example.
1:10:54Okay, Mattias Andersson.
1:10:56Mattias, in my opinion, is better than
1:10:58Landin, but I’ll put him at number
1:11:01three because I have someone else in
1:11:04mind for number one.
1:11:06Okay, so number three is Wolff.
1:11:09Wolff will be number four.
1:11:10Okay, number four is Amir.
1:11:12Number one is this guy here.
1:11:14So, this is the one who was going to be
1:11:15placed there, thank God.
1:11:16Thank God.
1:11:17He deserves it, by the way.
1:11:18Yeah.
1:11:19Players, I advise goalkeepers, if they
1:11:22want to learn from a goalkeeper...As a
1:11:27style, as a goalkeeper who stands tall
1:11:30and knows how to move, they should
1:11:32learn from Amir. Amir is one of the
1:11:34keepers who might have won every title,
1:11:37by the way, maybe more than...
1:11:40More than Landin, more than anyone, he
1:11:42won everything.
1:11:42Yeah, he won everything.
1:11:43But he didn't play in the 2011 World
1:11:45Cup, sorry.
1:11:46My apologies.
1:11:48Okay, fifth name, Fabregas.
1:11:50So he’s number five, right? We ranked
1:11:53from two to four, and number one was
1:11:56Amir, and now Fabregas. Okay, let's
1:11:59move on to another game called "Three".
1:12:02I will ask you a question and need
1:12:05three answers.
1:12:06Three answers.
1:12:07Perfect.
1:12:08Okay, first thing: If we had the choice
1:12:11to bring three players from the old
1:12:13generation to join the current one,
1:12:16could we win a World Cup with them?
1:12:18The old generation? Of course, Hussein
1:12:24Zaki has to be among them.
1:12:26Okay.
1:12:27Perfect. We could say, for example, on
1:12:34the left wing, maybe Amr El-Geoushy,
1:12:38for instance.
1:12:39Yeah, El-Geoushy would have made a huge
1:12:41difference for the national team, and
1:12:43Gohar Nabil, of course.
1:12:45So, if those three were with the
1:12:46current generation, we could win a
1:12:47World Cup?
1:12:48Most definitely, for sure.
1:12:49Okay, second question: Your top three
1:12:52most valuable titles.
1:12:54Most valuable titles as a coach, of
1:12:56course, or as a player? As a player, of
1:12:58course.
1:12:58Maybe as a player and as a coach, but
1:12:59let’s start as a player.
1:13:00As a player, of course, the most
1:13:02precious thing is the 1993 World
1:13:03Championship.
1:13:04Right.
1:13:05The World Championship, and it's hard
1:13:08to repeat; a World Championship where
1:13:11you fought against teams that were
1:13:13better than you in terms of resources,
1:13:16yet you outperformed them, that's a
1:13:19huge thing. And, of course, the 2008
1:13:22African Championship.
1:13:23Right.
1:13:24That's also one of the tournaments I
1:13:27can't forget. 2016 as a player, no, not
1:13:30as a player, as a coach. 2016, of
1:13:33course, I will never...
1:13:35The Africa tournament that was here in
1:13:37Egypt, the one that qualified for Rio.
1:13:39Exactly, there were tournaments and
1:13:41Olympic Games, but these are the ones
1:13:42that really impacted me.
1:13:43Alright, last question for this period:
1:13:46three players you see as underrated, or
1:13:48who deserved better popularity and a
1:13:51better career but didn't get their fair
1:13:53share?
1:13:54In Egypt, you mean?
1:13:55Yes, in Egypt.
1:13:56Well, I think Sherif Moamen.
1:14:00Okay.
1:14:01Sherif Moamen, actually, is one of the
1:14:05great players Egypt has had, but he had
1:14:09injuries and health issues, so maybe...
1:14:16I’ll go back to goalkeeping; there
1:14:20was a goalkeeper named Ahmed El-Awadi,
1:14:24one of the best I learned from. Also, I
1:14:28could mention Amr Geoushy, he didn't
1:14:32get his fair share either. He was an
1:14:35incredibly strong winger. But he didn't
1:14:38get enough media attention or
1:14:41recognition to become a huge name in
1:14:44handball. He is a big name, actually,
1:14:47but only to us. But he deserved more
1:14:49than that.
1:14:50Alright, the last segment is called "
1:14:52Negative," it's four questions.
1:14:53Alright.
1:14:54It’ll be a simple question, I need a
1:14:56short, concise answer from you. Sounds
1:14:58good?
1:14:58Sure. Okay, first question: Do you feel
1:15:00that in terms of popularity, you were a
1:15:02bit hard done by because you didn't
1:15:04play for Al Ahly or Zamalek, or that
1:15:06things could have been better fan-wise
1:15:08if you were at Al Ahly or Zamalek?
1:15:09Certainly, I was treated unfairly a lot
1:15:13. In many tournaments, I didn't get my
1:15:16due, especially in the media. There's a
1:15:19huge difference between playing for Al
1:15:23Ahly or Zamalek and playing for another
1:15:26club. I was neglected by the media and
1:15:29the fans.
1:15:30Did you get many offers from Al Ahly or
1:15:32Zamalek?
1:15:32Many, not Zamalek, but Al Ahly, many
1:15:35times.
1:15:35So, was it that you preferred staying
1:15:37where you were?
1:15:39Yes, but transferring back then was
1:15:40very difficult.
1:15:42What prevented it multiple times?
1:15:44The clubs, of course, and the
1:15:46federation. The federation blocked
1:15:49transfers from one club to another,
1:15:52saying they wouldn't strengthen one
1:15:55club over the rest of the competition
1:15:58by moving players to teams like Al Ahly
1:16:01or Zamalek. That was their point of
1:16:04view, and I don't see it as helpful now
1:16:08.
1:16:08I see it as something that did more
1:16:09harm than good.
1:16:10Of course. And by the way, many people
1:16:12were in the same situation, like Sherif
1:16:14Moamen at Tayaran, Amr Geoushy, and at
1:16:17El-Olympi, there was Ahmed Bilal who
1:16:19stayed with us and traveled abroad, but
1:16:21didn't go to Al Ahly or Zamalek.
1:16:23Alright, second question: If the
1:16:26goalkeepers of the old generation—
1:16:29let's include you, Hamada El-Roubi,
1:16:32Captain Ayman Salah, and maybe one
1:16:35other name. Are there in competition
1:16:37with the current goalkeepers of the
1:16:39Egyptian national team? But in our
1:16:41current circumstances, I don't see who
1:16:43can outperform.
1:16:44No, we were much better.
1:16:47So, what do you see as the difference?
1:16:48Everything; it's not arrogance, by the
1:16:51way, or...Actually, the goalkeepers are
1:16:54present now. I can talk about each one
1:16:56because I played with them and coached
1:16:59them. Each one knows...But if we had
1:17:04the same resources they have now. No,
1:17:08of course, regarding resources,
1:17:10actually. It's not just about the
1:17:11stadium and training equipment. It’s
1:17:14resources in everything, in...In match
1:17:18analysis and watching footage. To
1:17:23analyze how a player shoots, all these
1:17:27scientific aspects that have entered
1:17:30the game, training methods, even the
1:17:34goalkeeping work. Back movement,
1:17:40footwork—all these things. If we had
1:17:43that, I believe, because we had the
1:17:47talent and the passion, but I don't
1:17:50want to say...
1:17:52That this is now...
1:17:53That this is negative for the others.
1:17:56No, on the contrary, for the others.
1:17:57But this is just my point of view. That
1:17:59the old generation is still present,
1:18:01actually. Good goalkeepers. And there
1:18:04are good goalkeepers in the future, too
1:18:06. Hamid is good. Hamid, actually, I see
1:18:08him as someone who will...He will make
1:18:11a breakthrough in goalkeeping in Egypt.
1:18:13I mean, he needs time to reach that
1:18:15level. Essam El-Tayar is there. Mohamed
1:18:20Ali is there. Mohamed Ali is considered
1:18:22older than them. But Mohamed Ali, I see
1:18:24he has a specific style and specific
1:18:26matches. A smart coach chooses matches
1:18:29for each. I think the current national
1:18:32team goalkeeping coach is Sera.
1:18:35Actually, Sera, after I left Paris...
1:18:37He went to Paris.
1:18:38He went the year right after me,
1:18:40perhaps.
1:18:41And he stayed for a while until Amir
1:18:43came and he left.
1:18:44He stayed, yes, that's right.
1:18:45He stayed for a while, a bit.
1:18:46Yes, that's right, that's right. But I
1:18:48just remembered while talking about
1:18:51Sera that he played after me in Paris.
1:18:54So, he has his specific matches,
1:18:56Mohamed Ali has his specific matches.
1:18:59Hamid isn't with them on the list,
1:19:01maybe he is number four. But then comes
1:19:03Karim Hendawy; he is the one who will
1:19:06take over later. I see maybe there are
1:19:09younger goalkeepers, but I haven't seen
1:19:12them much. But there is the goalkeeper
1:19:14Youssef, who is at El Shams, perhaps.
1:19:15Youssef Nagi will likely go to Zamalek
1:19:17next year.
1:19:18Possibly, but of course, he still needs
1:19:21work, but he's coming along.
1:19:23Do you think it's better for Hamid to
1:19:24go abroad or stay at Al Ahly?
1:19:26No, he must go abroad, of course. With
1:19:28all due respect to Al Ahly, but a
1:19:31strong match rhythm is required for a
1:19:34goalkeeper to maintain consistency.
1:19:36Even for Karim, it made a big
1:19:38difference when he moved to Turkey,
1:19:41actually.
1:19:42At the time he went and played some
1:19:43Champions League.
1:19:43He played and then came back. And then
1:19:46he traveled again. And even now, I see
1:19:48his level in the Saudi League is,
1:19:51mashallah, good. He regained a lot of
1:19:53his form. My point is that it's not
1:19:56always about playing in your country
1:19:58for a popular club. Yes, but get out
1:20:00there. Essam El-Tayar, and I see...I
1:20:03see the problem is that I watch videos
1:20:06and see. But I haven't seen the matches
1:20:08themselves. Yes, he is very strong. He
1:20:11played in Leipzig and.
1:20:14And Balingen this year.
1:20:15And Balingen, and then he's going to
1:20:17Hamburg next year. By the way, speaking
1:20:19of Leipzig, I'm actually a graduate of
1:20:21the university there.
1:20:23That was recent, right?
1:20:24Yes, exactly, in 2015, before my
1:20:28transition phase between playing and
1:20:32coaching.
1:20:33Right, I got a handball diploma there
1:20:36from the university. You go and study
1:20:40for eight months; it's a diploma
1:20:42accredited by the IHF, the
1:20:44International Federation.
1:20:47That’s great, mashallah.
1:20:49Okay, since we've brought up the
1:20:50national team, we don't want to keep
1:20:52you too long, but how do you see our
1:20:53chances in the upcoming Olympics?
1:20:55Well, may God grant the Egyptian
1:20:58national team success. I had a dream of
1:21:02winning an Olympic medal, a dream I
1:21:05couldn't achieve. I hope it happens for
1:21:09this generation and the next, for Egypt
1:21:12, for my country. It would be a
1:21:16culmination of the effort I put in, or
1:21:18that my colleagues put in all those
1:21:21years, for us to win a medal. It's a
1:21:23very difficult matter, I know. Some say
1:21:26the Olympics are easier.
1:21:29No, the Olympics are much, much harder,
1:21:31and the biggest proof is the groups
1:21:33involved or what comes after.
1:21:36The quarter-finals.
1:21:37Yes, the quarter-finals, and having to
1:21:39continue with 14 or 15 players because
1:21:42the roster isn't open like the World
1:21:44Championship. You have a list; if
1:21:47someone gets injured, you swap them,
1:21:49but you can't replace them again if
1:21:52someone else gets injured.
1:21:54And the duration is shorter too,
1:21:55compared to World Championships.
1:21:57Yes, of course, the duration is short,
1:21:59and the load of the matches—you know,
1:22:02the Egyptian player isn't physically
1:22:05equipped to face France or Denmark, for
1:22:08example, while being expected to...
1:22:11100%. Okay. ...perform at 100%to
1:22:13eventually reach a spot that gives me a
1:22:17team that makes the quarter-finals
1:22:20easier.
1:22:20So, it's a difficult matter, of course.
1:22:23I hope for this generation, God willing
1:22:25. I know almost everyone, maybe only
1:22:28three or four didn't play with me, but
1:22:30the rest of the generation played with
1:22:33me on the court, and I know what they
1:22:35are capable of. They have ambition. And
1:22:38they have very high quality in
1:22:41everything. And their mindset,
1:22:43mashallah. They understand the gravity
1:22:45of the event they are in. So, God
1:22:48willing, may He grant them success. And
1:22:49may they do something that makes us
1:22:51proud. And makes our country proud.
1:22:54God willing, in your opinion, can we
1:22:56win a medal?
1:22:56Honestly, I don't want to...because I
1:23:00don't want to just predict. I don't
1:23:03want to get too carried away with the
1:23:06idea of winning a medal, because if it
1:23:09doesn't happen, it doesn't feel good.
1:23:13But I know what they are capable of. I
1:23:15could tell you we'll win a gold medal,
1:23:17even though I know it's difficult. So,
1:23:20I hope, I hope we reach the semi-finals
1:23:23. And I believe we can reach the
1:23:26semi-finals. If we win a medal, that
1:23:29would be something very good for Egypt,
1:23:32God willing.
1:23:33God willing. Okay, let's check on you
1:23:36finally. What is your next step, or
1:23:38where do you see yourself in the coming
1:23:40period?
1:23:41Look, I am currently at Al Sadd Club,
1:23:44okay? You know how things are,
1:23:46especially since I value stability.
1:23:49Fair enough.
1:23:50And perhaps my family, my son was
1:23:54actually with me. He is studying with
1:23:58me here in Qatar. But if something
1:24:01better comes along, that's another
1:24:03matter. However, I am currently at Al
1:24:06Sadd Club and focused on it. On my work
1:24:09, uh. And God willing, I stay in good
1:24:13shape. To become a distinguished coach,
1:24:16God willing. That would be a good thing
1:24:19. I am continuing at Al Sadd Club for
1:24:21now. And it's all good.
1:24:22God willing, everything will be fine.
1:24:24Alright, before we wrap up the episode
1:24:26—which we don't want to end, honestly
1:24:28—we want to get a shirt from you, so
1:24:30we'll sign it.
1:24:31Sure, this is an Al Sadd Club shirt.
1:24:33Okay.
1:24:34Honestly, I would have liked to bring
1:24:36you something better than this, but
1:24:39this is the club I'm at right now.
1:24:41It's fine.
1:24:42I've been working there for over seven
1:24:45or eight years, and, well...
1:24:48No, for us, it's precious because it's
1:24:49from you.
1:24:50No, I'll also try to bring something
1:24:52from the Egyptian national team, God
1:24:53willing.
1:24:54Yes, I'll sign it, right?
1:24:56Yes, sign it, yeah.
1:24:58Right here, Moamen.
1:24:59Okay.
1:25:08This is for the Dean, right?
1:25:11I would have loved to get you a shirt
1:25:13signed by all the players, but I said
1:25:16no, I'll just...
1:25:18This shirt, it has my number, 12, which
1:25:20I’ve had my whole life. I never
1:25:22changed it, by the way.
1:25:24Is there a secret behind the 12, or...?
1:25:25No, it just happened from the very
1:25:27beginning and I stuck with it.
1:25:29Could you hold it up to the camera? Yes
1:25:31.
1:25:32Just look at the camera while holding
1:25:33it up.
1:25:33Yes.
1:25:35That's it.
1:25:37Moamen, I just want to say thank you to
1:25:38you all.
1:25:39We'll get it, yes, but we'll get it in
1:25:41the...
1:25:41You want to get it? Yes, it's still
1:25:44there, yes, okay.
1:25:45Alright, the last thing we wanted to
1:25:49ask you. Straighten your back a bit,
1:25:51and we’d like to hear your answer.
1:25:53After, praise be to God, all these
1:25:56years, both in handball and beyond.
1:25:58What is your concept of success? What
1:26:00does success mean to Captain Hamada
1:26:02El-Naqib?
1:26:02The concept of success isn't just for
1:26:06Hamada El-Naqib; it's for anyone who is
1:26:11successful. Of course, it's to always
1:26:16work on yourself and put in your
1:26:19maximum effort in your job without
1:26:23holding back. Don't say, "This is only
1:26:27worth what I'm being paid." No, give it
1:26:29your all. Give your maximum effort, and
1:26:31God will reward you. Give your best
1:26:33effort—the absolute most you have.
1:26:37And God will grant you success and you
1:26:38will thrive. After that. And it's not
1:26:40just me saying this. Anyone who has
1:26:43succeeded, okay, uh. Did so by working
1:26:47hard. With everything you've got in
1:26:49your work. I am 100%sure that you work
1:26:52with complete sincerity and dedication.
1:26:55And the people with you. They work with
1:26:59all their effort. Their maximum effort.
1:27:03And God grants you success and you
1:27:04thrive. And you are doing a very
1:27:06beautiful job. It’s not just Hamada;
1:27:09anyone who wants to succeed, or anyone
1:27:11who succeeds, does exactly that.
1:27:13Alright, one last thing, what is your
1:27:14opinion of HandGoal in general?
1:27:16Handball, Handball, I've been with you
1:27:18from the very beginning. I might be one
1:27:21of your first followers, partly because
1:27:24of you, Moamen. You know how it is.
1:27:26Thank you, Hamada, God bless you.
1:27:29We filmed together back when we were
1:27:31maybe in...
1:27:33In Abu Qir College.
1:27:34Exactly.
1:27:35Right, not at the Academy, but at the
1:27:36Faculty of Physical Education in Abu
1:27:37Qir.
1:27:37Exactly, exactly.
1:27:38Right. I have witnessed all of its
1:27:42successes. Handball is not just for
1:27:45Egyptians. Handball has boosted the
1:27:48sport's popularity tremendously,
1:27:51mashallah. My kids are always watching
1:27:55it. And others are always getting their
1:27:57news from it. My colleagues even send
1:27:59me news from it. So, I am happy and
1:28:03thrilled. It feels like a success of my
1:28:06own. Because it's a success I've seen
1:28:09from the very start. I wish you
1:28:11continued success always. I wish you
1:28:14nothing but the best. You’ve become
1:28:16the best. And I want to see you at the
1:28:18Olympics too.
1:28:19God bless you, Captain. God willing,
1:28:20God willing, we will meet there.
1:28:21We have to, honestly, if there's a...
1:28:23I mean, if there's a chance, I'll go,
1:28:26by the way. If there's an opportunity,
1:28:29for sure. I hope Handball is there too
1:28:31because it deserves it. I want the
1:28:34coverage to come from you guys.
1:28:36God willing, God willing, God willing.
1:28:38And to have a spotlight on the current
1:28:41work being done. Whether it's at the
1:28:44training camp, because they'll be
1:28:45traveling after that. We want to see
1:28:48them, see their reactions. Their
1:28:51impressions, and what they'll do at the
1:28:53Olympics. Because it's a huge event.
1:28:55Maybe the greatest thing in sports is
1:28:59to play in the Olympics.
1:29:02The Olympics.
1:29:02So, I love watching the players and
1:29:04their impressions before the tournament
1:29:06, God willing.
1:29:07God willing, God willing, God willing.
1:29:09Well, Captain Hamada, we’d like to
1:29:10thank you for this episode. Honestly, I
1:29:12don't know what to say to you. I am
1:29:14truly grateful for this episode. And
1:29:17grateful for your presence here, as I
1:29:19said at the beginning. I'll wrap up the
1:29:22episode now. You are practically the
1:29:24history of handball. Even as we were
1:29:26talking or trying to prepare for the
1:29:29episode and speaking with people, no
1:29:32one hesitated to speak highly of you
1:29:34for hours when they heard your name.
1:29:37All generations, from the young to the
1:29:39old, those who played with you, and
1:29:40those who didn't.
1:29:41So for us, this episode is truly,
1:29:43honestly, very precious. On a personal
1:29:45level, and for all of us. And for
1:29:46Handball. I think we will be...In a
1:29:48different place after this episode. And
1:29:51I thank your team. Mashallah. I came,
1:29:54and...I swear, I am so impressed by the
1:29:57work you are doing.
1:29:59I didn't imagine it would be this
1:30:01professional.
1:30:03Mashallah, you do professional work.
1:30:07That's why I'm sure, God willing, that
1:30:10you will go very far.
1:30:11God bless you.
1:30:12God willing, praise be to God.

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