Issue No. 612
Sports
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14 - 20 November 2002 Issue No. 612 Sports |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Half - time: One more chance
The Egyptian Handball Federation (EHF) remains the most respectable sports federation in Egypt -- particularly in terms of showing respect to the public and recognising the public's right to know.
As soon as the national team delegation returned from Sweden after taking part in the World Cup and placing seventh, the federation immediately prepared itself to face the public's disappointment and anger. The EHF is the only sports federation in the nation that always answers back on its teams' behalf. None of the other federations have ever even shown glimpses of preparing to provide answers; whether excuses or explanations. Avoiding the public and ignoring the criticism has been the only feedback known from these federations.
Dr Hassan Mustafa, president of both the Egyptian and International Handball Federations, was the official providing the explanation after the World Cup placing. Mustafa said that the seventh place is not a deterioration given the current level of the national team considering that the national team currently includes nine newcomers who were playing for the first time. He explained that they lacked experience and that they were pushed into this championship in order to give them the experience before taking part in the World Championship in Portugal.
Mustafa did, however, admit that it was the federation's fault, and that he opposes the media attack on the Yugoslavian head coach Zoran because he did in fact do a solid coaching job. He told reporters that whoever wants to criticise, should address the criticism to the federation management and not the head coach. He added that the Sweden championship was a friendly championship and had nothing to do with the real World Cup. He confirmed that in his capacity as president of the International Federation, he will ensure that the Swedes are sued for pegging the World Cup name to a friendly championship. He added that the International Federation had nothing to do with it and that it does not even supervise it. If it so happened that it fell under the federation in the past, Mustafa said, it was the fault of the previous board of the International Federation.
Mustafa was not the only Handball Federation member to be applauded. I felt great respect for Hadi Fahmi, vice-president of the Egyptian Handball Federation, when he admitted on a live TV programme that he understands the public's frustration and anger when they ask for results because it was their right. His statement came in response to public questioning about the deterioration in the level of play displayed by the national team, despite the fact that they continue to be offered all the financial and technical facilities necessary to maintain their success. Fahmi matter-of-factly explained that the fans have the right to be angry and disappointed if there were no remarkable results given all those facilities, and it was the federation's fault.
The federation, however, demanded that the public be more patient and support the national team in the coming period. He emphasised that the team need a push to prove themselves in the World Championship in two months time -- a feat that will never be attained without the public's full-fledged support. The president of the Federation revealed that the national team will be undergoing an intensive training programme, participating in an international championship in France, and an international championship in Cairo that will include the seven Arab nations; all of whom will participate in the World Championship. Before heading to Portugal in the middle of January, the national team will also participate in an international championship in Denmark.
Given the history, we will respect the federation as it has respected us, and we will force ourselves to have more patience and give the team one last chance. All we can hope for, is that the national team fulfil not our hopes, but their dreams first. That, would be true success.
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