 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 November 1999 Issue No. 454 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 4 - 10 November 1999 Issue No. 454
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Nothing more to prove
By Abeer Anwar
Magdi Abdullah, born and brought up in Sharqiya, the governorate that produced several field hockey standouts, has decided to call it a day.
Egypt's Magdi Abdullah
"I decided to retire because I have done my best," Abdullah told the Weekly. The 34-year-old had hoped to take Egypt to the Sydney Olympics, but the squad finished second in qualifying games. Even if the country had made it, though, Abdullah probably wouldn't have travelled with the team anyway.
"I believe that by the 2000 Olympics, I will not be able to do anything or achieve anything new," he said. Concerning his retirement, Abdullah said he was very pleased by the large number of world champions and International Field Hockey (FIH) officials who attended his au revoire match.
And in his farewell bid, Abdullah was honoured into the world's all-star squad -- a privilege bestowed on him three months ago. Abdullah said it was an honour for Egypt to have two Egyptians players chosen; himself and Ashraf Shafiq.
In 1983, Abdullah joined the national team, playing his first championship the following year. He won the 1991 African Games and the 1989 African Nations Cup. With Sharqiya, he won an astounding 10 African titles from 1988 to 1997 and 14 league championships titles.
It all started 25 years ago, when Abdullah was just nine years old. "My friends used to play hockey which was widespread in Sharqiya at the time, so we used to get hold of any kind of stick and crumple up a piece of paper and play."
At first, it seemed like a strange sport to Abdullah, but he was interested in playing with his friends and relatives. "In Sharqiya, hockey is considered a family sport and almost all the members of a family play hockey." To illustrate the point, Abdullah cited brothers Mohamed and Gamal -- now on the national team.
What makes a world-class hockey team? "A good coach, obedient and talented players, good facilities and equipment," Abdullah said. "The player also has to have physical fitness and be committed."
As for the difference between Egyptian and foreign counterparts, "It's all in the mind," he said. "We don't use our minds while playing. Other than that, we don't lack anything."
Abdullah sees his immediate future as becoming an assistant to coach Zaghlul of Sharqiya club, and with his expert insight, helping the team reach the ranks of the world's top teams
