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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters All-star girl
By Dalia El-Hennawy
Egypt's Sarah Hassanein made history last week when she played with the world's best soccer team, the first Egyptian to receive the honour. The all-stars defeated the US national team 2-1 in a game celebrating the forthcoming Women's World Cup, scheduled to take place next summer. But it was not the win that really mattered to Hassanein. "It was a great experience for me," the 16-year-old prodigy said. "I had never dreamt of playing with the game's top stars and against a big team like the United States."
Sara, our Egyptian player in the women's international football team
"Though Egypt did not qualify for the World Cup, our player has been chosen in appreciation of our efforts in the game," Sahar El-Hawari, president of the Egyptian women's soccer committee and a FIFA member, said. "Egypt has struggled for a long time for recognition and now we are proud to present to the world one of our most talented players, whose performances convinced FIFA to choose her for the team," El-Hawari said.
"Sarah has a very bright future and her confidence is portrayed in her playing ability and a very healthy understanding of her plans," said El-Hawari, who was chosen by FIFA as member of the supervising committee for the Third Women's World Cup.
Egypt's progress in the last couple of years and its qualification for the African Nations Cup led FIFA to select Hassanein to the team, together with two other African countries. "Choosing me to play on the all-star team is an honour not only for myself but for my country as well because Egypt's history in the game is very short," Hassanein said.
"Before the game [against the US] we put her through an intensive fitness programme. The aim was for Sarah to look and feel her best while representing Egypt at such an important time, and she did," added El-Hawari.
Hassanein began playing the game at the age of nine with her four brothers on the streets. At 11 she was selected by El-Hawari to play on a Cairo all-star team. Her talents and skill soon took her to the Egyptian national team. So far, she has played 20 international games. She idolises Zamalek's midfielder Khaled El-Ghandour and the Brazilian star Roberto Carlos, whose position on the field, left back, she, too, occupies.
The draw for the 32-match Women's World Cup, to run from 19 June to 10 July, resulted in confusion about which nation the Americans will play in their opening match. It got more confusing when officials switched around two groups for marketing reasons. When the dust had settled, the teams were positioned as follows:
Group A: United States, North Korea, Nigeria, Denmark
Group B: Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Italy
Group C: Canada, Japan, Russia, Norway
Group D: China, Australia, Ghana, Sweden
"We could really call this the unknown group, because we really don't know North Korea or Nigeria very well," US coach Tony Dicicco told reporters after the draw. "Denmark has been a strong, physical opponent for the US in the past, and will be a good test for us in the opener."
Tiffeny Milbert, a forward on the US team, said the Americans are more comfortable with Denmark than with the other nations in their group. "Personally I'm scared of unknown teams," Milbert said. "Often, these types of teams are scrappy. And scrappy teams tend to match up against our weaknesses pretty well," she added.
The Women's World Cup, being billed as the largest women-only sporting event in history, will have games in or near Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington.
"Come this summer, fill the stadiums and excite young girls all over the world," Donna De Varona, chairwoman of the organising committee, said. The event has encouraged FIFA President Sepp Blatter to call again for the World Cup to be played every two years instead of four.
In the all-star match, Charmaine Hooper of Canada scored twice in the second half for the world stars. Julie Foudy scored the lone US goal midway through the first half. US midfielder Michelle Akers left the game in the first half, her face bloodied, and was taken to a hospital after bumping heads with an opponent on a jump ball situation in front of the all-stars goal. She had a severe cut over her left eyebrow, expected to need four stitches, and a bruised cheekbone.
Hassanein, who is still a secondary school student, has other ambitions. She dreams of playing professionally abroad, especially in Germany. "Playing in Germany will help me improve my play and style. Germany is one of the strongest teams in men's soccer and also in women's. It would be a good opportunity for me. It will also have a positive affect on my performance on the national team. I will be more experienced."
Hassanein's immediate plans are to attend a three-month training camp in Germany, an invitation she received from the German women's soccer committee following the game. .
