8 - 14 March 2001
Issue No.524
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 8 - 14 March 2001 Issue No.524 |
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Enough is enough
As long as twins Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan continue playing, they will always be threatening to retire. That's the irony that the bad boys of Egyptian football have thrown on us for the past 15 years of their career; for some it seems more like an eternity.
The latest on-again, off-again stand by the petulant two came following Egypt's 1-1 draw against Namibia in Windhoek in a World Cup qualifier last week. Namibia, a team which Egypt throttled 7-1 only three years ago, should have been the easiest of preys. Instead, Egypt was on the verge of losing; only a last-gasp goal spared its blushes.
In the match, the twins were lethargic, showing little zest or imagination. Defender Ibrahim, stranded up the field, was guilty of leaving too much space for the Namibian who trotted in all alone for the goal. Hossam had a golden opportunity to level midway in the second half but his reflexes, once razor-sharp, betrayed him at point-blank range.
Back home, the press made mincemeat out of the twins and openly called for their ouster from the national squad. At age 35, analysts wrote that the duo were long in the tooth and that they had become an impediment more than an asset. Rocked by the criticism, the brothers duly bowed to the media's wishes and vowed to call it a day, once and for all.
It was, in fact, the umpteenth time the Hassans had swore they would never again play. Thus, there is no reason to believe their present stand should be taken seriously. Indeed, just a week after the Namibia debacle, Hossam scored twice in the famed Ahli-Zamalek derby, answering many of his detractors -- who had buried him -- that there was still some life left in him. The Hassan boys also have the unwavering support of national team boss Mahmoud El-Gohari who is said would never let go of them even if they were forced to play on one leg. Indeed, inserted in the line-up for another key World Cup qualifier, against Algeria on 11 March, is Hossam Hassan.
If the brothers do play again -- and do not play well again -- we can expect more of the same churlish pronouncements: "We quit, we won't, we will, we're back?"
Hossam and Ibrahim have had tremendous days. Hossam has been dubbed Egypt's best footballer of the 20th century and last month, he broke the record for the world's most capped player. Ibrahim is also in the elite century club for international games. At club and international level, their combined awards could be stacked tree high.
But their accomplishments have often been overshadowed by an irascible temper which has put them into plenty of hot water, as evidenced most recently by Ibrahim's tirade against media people in the derby. The outburst cost him LE10,000 and a three-month suspension.
The brothers are in the twilight of their career. It is a physical impossibility they will be around too much longer. It would be nice if, when they hang up their collective boots, they will be remembered for more than a lot of huffing and puffing.
If you have to go, go out in style.
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