Egypt briefly

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Finally, Fingada

AFTER several weeks of speculation, the Portuguese coach Fingada has been hired by the Zamalek football club. Fingada takes over from Brazilian coach Capral who in just one year led Zamalek to an unprecedented five football titles. But Capral lost some of his shine when in less than a week, the club was ousted from the local cup and the African Champions League. Zamalek were the defending champions of both. Fingada will be at the helm in the Arab championships to be held next month in Cairo and which will be co-hosted by Zamalek and Enppi. The 55-year-old Fingada, who formerly coached the Saudi national team, will receive $16,000 a month.

Football failure

THE UNDER-17 football team has failed to qualify for the World Cup finals scheduled for Finland in August after losing to Nigeria 3-1 in the play-off for third and fourth place. Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Nigeria will instead represent Africa in the championship.

With the champions

FOOTBALLERS were placed in Group 2 in the all-Africa Games in Nigeria in October. Egypt was grouped with title holders Cameroon, Algeria and Ghana. Group A comprises Nigeria, Zambia, Senegal and South Africa. For the first time in an all-Africa Games, women's football will be represented.

Medals in Mexico

AT THE world junior weightlifting championships in Mexico, Egypt's men and women collected 11 medals. In the men's event, Mohamed Ihsan Attia hauled in three gold medals in the 105kg weight category and was named the best player. Nahla Ramadan was named the best female athlete in the competition as she and her compatriots pocketed two gold medals, four silver and two bronze. The gold was won by Ramadan in the 75kg weight category. Anga Said took two silver and a bronze in the 48kg weight category while Hebatallah Abdel-Rehim claimed a silver and one bronze in the 63kg weight category. Ramadan, who also won a silver in Mexico, took home three gold medals at the Grand Prix in Hungary last month.

The team now heads for Bulgaria to train in preparation for the world championships.