Al-Ahram Weekly 5 - 11 August 1999 Issue No. 441
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

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Axe falls on Egyptian soccer

By Nashwa Abdel-Tawab

Millions of Egyptians went out to clubs or cafés last Thursday specially to watch the satellite-transmitted Egypt-Saudi Arabia game in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Mexico. Fans had put a great deal of faith in the Egyptian team. Many expected Egypt to reach at least the semifinals and others had their hopes set on the cup.

But the Egyptians were trounced 1-5 by Saudi Arabia. The entire nation mourned the loss. Two television viewers suffered heart attacks after witnessing their heroes' defeat.

For the first time ever, fans did not wait for the team at the airport on their return home. Even travellers and workers who happened to be at the airport at the time did not bother to talk to the team or even blame them. One fan at the airport, who was waiting for his cousin's flight, said it seemed that the team members were no longer in a 'team' any more. This loss was unacceptable, he said, adding "We can accept loss, but with good performance."

There has also been a response at higher levels. President Mubarak has commissioned a report to explain the reasons behind the team's weak performance. Mubarak suggested that those responsible should be punished. The report will be drawn up by Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri in his capacity as chairman of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports. Twenty-four hours after Mubarak's directive was issued, the entire board of the Egyptian Football Federation submitted a coolective resignation. Also the entire technical and administrative staff headed by coach Mahmoud El-Gohari resigned. A new interim board will be appointed to serve for one year.

At the airport, El-Gohari commented, with a cool smile, that the referee had been unfair and put the players under stress that made them unable to apply the team's plans. "I wanted so much to withdraw the team and not complete the match, but it would have looked terrible because two Arab teams were playing together," he said.

Egypt's successful run within its group -- 2:2 with Bolivia, 2:2 with Mexico -- came to an abrupt end when Saudi Arabia caught their attack off guard only five minutes into the last match of the first round of the competition. Saudi striker Marzouk Al-Otaibi scored the first goal.

Above right: Egyptian fans were cheering Egypt, now they are cheering Brazil left: Egypt's Walid Salaheddin trying in vain to take hold of the ball from the Saudi defence; top left: Gohari and (right) Hazem Imam at the airport without their usual home-coming celebration photos: Amr Gamal and AFP

In an increasingly tense game, Egypt lost Abdel-Sattar Sabri through expulsion, then had to concede another goal after a beautiful move by the Saudis. The game crumbled further for Egypt as they were reduced to nine players when striker Hazem Imam was shown a second yellow card. The match continued amid taut nerves with each team scoring one goal. Then, Al-Otaibi scored another two goals against an Egyptian team who had long given up and lost a third player, Samir Kamouna, through a red card.

The match was refereed by Ubaldo Aquino from Paraguay. Both the players and El-Gohari blamed Aquino for their loss due to what they considered unfair decisions and expulsions. "He's a butcher not a referee," said Samir Kamouna. "He provoked us every minute to shake us psychologically from the inside and it worked. He told me before shooting the penalty kick that I should put my jersey inside my shorts or else I'd be suspended. Were it not for my cool nerves, I would have missed the goal," he said.

Imam and the other players added that because of the referee's behaviour they erred as well, unable to maintain their concentration. "It's not El-Gohari's fault. It's ours. We didn't stick to his plan well. We were unorganised. Our defence started to attack randomly and the road to our net was left open. Later, we couldn't make up," said Imam.

Egypt became the first team ever to have three players sent off in one match, playing only with eight.

Saudi Arabia's win propelled them into a semifinal spot after Mexico beat Bolivia 1-0 in the second match of the night.

Saudi Arabia, however, lost to Brazil in the semifinals. The rain poured and so did the goals as Brazil crushed Saudi Arabia by eight goals to two. Ronaldinho got his hat trick in a game that at one time looked close. Brazil looked comfortable when after just 11 minutes they were winning 2-0. Then, in a nine-minute spell, two goals by Al-Otaibi put the match level. Brazil then stepped on the accelerator, scoring four goals in the first half and four more in the second.

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