Party soccer

Mini-football tournaments are extremely popular throughout Egypt during the holy month. Ahmed Morsy covers one sponsored by a member of parliament

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Nothing but empty seats stare down at what is otherwise a compelling Ramadan mini-football tournament

Youths from throughout Nasr City in Cairo are currently participating in the El-Salab Ramadan futsal tournament. For the sixth successive year the tournament is being sponsored by the National Democratic Party (NDP) MP Mustafa El-Salab. Its total prize money of LE30,000 makes El-Salab one of the more popular Ramadan five-a- side soccer tournaments for young people. The first place team will win LE15,000, the second LE10,000 and LE5,000 goes to the third.

Ahmed Helmi, 24, is the captain of one of the teams participating for the first time in the tournament. "Even though I live nearby, it's the first time for me and my friends to participate," Helmi told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Frankly, we play mainly for the LE15,000 and we hope to get it. We normally play in our own small private league which I and my friends organise every Ramadan but this year we wanted hotter competition.

"We pray taraweeh (night prayers) then we go to play. I really like the organisation; the schedule is so exact. I'm also surprised to see people in their 30s playing."

A LE5 fee and being a member of the NDP are the only conditions to play in the tournament, staged in the indoor hall of Nasr City Club. And even if you're not a member you can still join. Just show them your ID and you will be given an NDP card and subsequent membership.

Thirty-two teams are placed in eight groups. Sixteen teams have currently reached the second stage. Each team has its own uniform handed out during the tournament's inauguration, a celebration which El-Salab attended.

"It's not the only futsal tournament we take part in Ramadan," said Gamal Senosi, captain of another team. "I hardly find time to rest because I play in six other tournaments during the holy month." Senosi received offers to play in Sharkiya Dokhan club and in Nasr City after he displayed his skills in El-Salab.

"We reached the semi-final last year and are hoping this year to reach the final. I also want to be the best player in the tournament," Senosi added.

The only problem with El-Salab is the few spectators who attend the matches. Those who do come consist mainly of friends of the players.

"Twelve other teams did not participate since there were no places," Hossam El-Masri, the executive organiser of the tournament, told the Weekly.

"There will be another tournament which should include teams that couldn't make it to give an opportunity to all who are interested. Thanks to MB El-Salab and the supervisor Bahaa Abdel-Wadood, first place prize money was increased from LE5,000 last year to LE15,000 this year.

"It's a healthy, entertaining atmosphere in which we gather NDP youths. At the same time, the tournament ends by mid-Ramadan to give players a chance to concentrate on other activities," El-Masri said.