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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 June 1999 Issue No. 432 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 3 - 9 June 1999 Issue No. 432
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Interview Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters The Cuban equation
By Inas Mazhar
Fans are expected to pack the 25,000-seat stadium today when Egypt meets Cuba on the third day of the 16th World Handball Championship.
Getting ready for the big day. The men tuned up with a friendly against Norway while the girls synchronised their steps for the opening ceremony photos: Khaled El-Fiqi
Experts say the Cubans are not to be underestimated. "Cuba has developed a lot in recent years," Hassan Moustafa, president of the Egyptian Handball Federation and the local organising committee, said. "It's a strong team. They have well-built players who have helped raise the standard of the game. The Cubans have high hopes and we shouldn't belittle their capabilities." Egypt beat Cuba in the 1997 World Championships in Japan to reach the quarter-finals but, says, Moustafa, "it wasn't easy. It was really tough." It was experience, added Moustafa, that gave Egypt the edge.
This will be Cuba's sixth appearance in the World Championship and its second straight showing. The team trained in Europe and has made reaching the quarter-finals, which would be for the first time, a minimum target.
"I've told our players to be wary, not only of Cuba but of the rest of our opponents in the group," said Moustafa. "Many think our group is easy, but in fact, it is difficult. Not as strong as Groups C and D but tougher than Group A."
Egypt and Cuba are in Group B along with Brazil, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Fyro Macedonia. The four teams that will qualify from Group B will meet the top four in Group A. According to Moustafa, Egypt's choice of the group was not haphazard. "There was a philosophy in selecting the group," Moustafa said. If we come first or second in our group, we will meet the third or fourth best team in Group B which will make it a bit easier for us," said Moustafa, adding it was imperative for Egypt to play its best in order to take first or second place in the preliminary round.
Yesterday was an off day for Egypt. Tomorrow, it takes on Saudi Arabia who are playing in the championship for the second time.
Today's Group B fixtures, to be played at Cairo Stadium's main hall, has Brazil facing Saudi Arabia and Fyro Macedonia meeting Germany. In Group A, at the Police Federation Hall, Morocco will play Tunisia, Argentina takes on Spain and Algeria plays Denmark.
In Group C, Kuwait meets Hungary, Nigeria plays against defending champions Russia while Norway faces Croatia, all in Ismailia.
In Group D in Port Said, China meets Sweden, newcomers Australia face Yugoslavia and South Korea is pitted against France. Groups A, C and D began their matches yesterday. Three games were played in each group.
Each of the four venues prepared a special welcoming ceremony of its own in addition to the opening ceremony which took place on Tuesday.
Saturday is a rest day for all the teams. Sightseeing programmes are being planned in the governorates where the tournament is being played. On Saturday night, the governors plan receptions in honour of the teams.
More than 40 countries have acquired transmission rights to broadcast the tournament, a new record for worldwide transmission of a handball championship.
On the sidelines
Birthdays
Egypt's Ashraf Awwad and eight other players will celebrate their birthdays during the championship. Awwad turned 27 on opening day, 1 June. On 2 June, Spain's Talaant Dushbajev became 31. On 4 June Russia's Igor Lavarov will celebrate his 26th birthday. Two players will celebrate their 27th birthdays on 5 June: Algeria's Selim Nadjil and Morocco's Ahmed Ahwari. Russia's Lev Veronin turns 28 on 8 June. Two players are to celebrate on 10 June: Algeria's Loukil Abdel-Ghani, 26, and France's Varloteaux Benoit, 28. On 11 June, Morocco's Noureddine Mariout becomes 25.Shortest
Kuwait's Ahmed Al-Kandari is the shortest player in the championship (168 centimetres) and, at 19, the youngest.Just a coincidence
Three Moroccan players share just about everything: the same height, weight and number of international matches played. Abdel-Aziz Bousheiha, Noureddine Bouhedawi and Abdel-Kebir Al-Aiouti are all 181 centimetres tall, weigh 87 kilogrammes and have played 15 international matches each.Stephan out
German Daniel Stephan, voted the world's best player in 1998, will not play in the championships because of injury. The 25-year-old player of the year was seriously injured during the World Cup in Norway in March and returned to Germany for treatment. He resumed training and was listed on a day-to-day basis.
