16 - 22 May 2002
Issue No.586
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 16 - 22 May 2002 Issue No.586 |
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Poring over CVs
Egyptian handball is looking for a new head coach. Inas Mazhar sees how far the search has gone
The Egyptian national handball team has had to quickly forget its disappointing outing in Casablanca in the African Nations Cup to gear up for another championship and to find a new coach.
Bilal's last hurrah photo: Khaled El- fiqi
The Sixth Al-Ahram International Handball Championship begins in Cairo on 21 May, just three weeks after the national team lost their African title to North African rivals Tunisia in the 16th edition of the championship in Morocco.
Croatian head coach Vlamir Klaitsh was sacked after the first round of the competition, temporarily replaced by assistant coach Mohamed El-Alfi.
"We had no time to find another head coach because he should be a foreigner and that takes time," president of the federation Hassan Mustafa said. "It's a short time between the two championships and even if we found another coach there would be no time for either side, the players or him, to benefit from each other."
"However, the search continues. We are studying various CVs. We have to select the right man who will lead us in the world championships. This time we can't risk losing our fourth place seeding in the world. We must either preserve it or improve on it," Mustafa added.
The world championships begin in Portugal in January 2003. The top four finishers in Morocco -- Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco -- qualified.
Former head coach, Yugoslav Zoran Zikovitch, who led the team to their fourth place finish at the world championships in France last year, could be rehired again. Zikovitch had left the team shortly after the tournament to be with his son more.
"We contacted him," Mustafa said. "He seems willing to take over again." However, according to Mustafa, Zikovitch will not be able to come before the first week of June, thus missing the Al- Ahram championship, a four-day event which includes Russia, Romania and Macedonia.
"For the first time we will not be looking to win this championship," Mustafa said. "We want to improve our performance to placate our fans who were disappointed with us in Morocco."
He added that Zikovitch will also miss the exhibition match between Egypt and a world selection team in Cairo on 27 May, the proceeds of which will go to the families of the near 400 victims who died in the train fire in Upper Egypt in March.
The search for a new coach comes as two of the team's top stars announced their retirement from the international arena. Ahmed Belal, 33, who played over 400 matches during his career, was the first Egyptian handball player to turn pro abroad. He will be honoured by the International Handball Federation in Cairo during the world selection team match. The national team captain and playmaker, Belal played in five world championships starting in 1993, the most among Egyptian handballers. He also took part in three Olympic Games -- Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney.
Amr El-Gioushi, 32, played 352 matches and was in three world championships and two Olympic Games.
Belal and El-Gioushi say they will continue to play for Olympi club of Alexandria.
As for the Casablanca fallout, head of the Egyptian delegation in Morocco Hussein Labib presented to the federation a report of the team's performance which will be scrutinised by the board of directors. The players and the technical staff are expected to be grilled by the board though whatever punitive measures are to be taken will most likely not be meted out until after the Al-Ahram championship.
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