Gone

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Rifaat El-Fanagili (1936-2004)

Twenty years ago, a poll was conducted to choose the best 10 players in the history of Egyptian football. The 50-member committee consisting of veteran players over 60 chose Rifaat El-Fanagili, who topped the list with 26 votes.

Experts agree that El-Fanagili, who died aged 68, was a total footballer, excelling in all aspects of the game. Probably the finest all- rounder of his generation, former sports columnist Neguib El-Mistikawi dubbed him "The Engineer". El-Fanagili combined physical fitness, extraordinary skills, as well as tactical awareness years before the emergence of modern football thinking. Excelling in creating space and sending tantalising passes, he produced more than 200 passes that resulted in goals for both his club Ahli and the national team.

While generations have produced remarkable performers, there is a plausible body of opinion which elevates El-Fanagili to a yet more exalted plane. It places him among the greatest players the country has seen since the introduction of the game in 1882 at the hands of the British occupation.

What made El-Fanagili special was his mastery of virtually every aspect of the game, commanding presence, as well as delicacy of touch. He was also an innovator, the first Egyptian to press the opponent in his own side of the field.

El-Fanagili helped Ahli to six national league titles, four Cup victories, and the Cup of the United Arab Republic once. Playing a key role in the national team, he was on the team which won the African Cup of Nations in Sudan in 1957 and 1959.

He also scored 10 goals altogether against Ahli's arch foe Zamalek.

Gamal Awad (1964-2004)

The squash icon passed away after suffering a heart attack. Awad, who died at 40, won the British Amateur Championship in 1977 and 1978 and the World Amateur Championship in 1979 in New Zealand. However, his name entered the chronicles of the Guinness Book of World Records for having played the longest match ever in the history of the sport against then world champion Jahangir Khan of Pakistan in the Chichester Festival in England in 1979. They continued to play for two hours and 46 minutes. They also played the longest game in that match, the first game lasting for an hour and 11 minutes.

Khan won the marathon 3-1.