1 rd Issue 33 March 2018 Chairman of SIS Diaa Rashwan • 2017 CAF Awards: Egypt biggest winner Editor-in-Chief • Salah to African, Egyptian children: Never stop dreaming Abdelmoeti Abuzaid • Salah scores twice as Egypt Qualifies for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia • International media celebrates the victory of “The King Excutive Editor of Africa” Nashwa Abdel Hamid • Mohamed Salah, a family man • Sisi bestows sport medal on athletes winning trophies in Layout & cover championships in New Year Rania Samir Wishahy • The Pharaohs back among the elites Ayat Mekky • Games, Sports & Recreation in Ancient Egypt 2 Editorial 2017, Year of Awards & Sports Distinction The year 2017 was a year of distinction for Egypt on many levels, especially on the security and stability sphere which positively reflected on performance on the economy, development process, mega national projects and urban expansion as well as on other fields resulting in tangible improvement of the lives of Egyptians, their hopes for the future and Egypt’s rankings in many international reports. Sports is part and parcel of Egypt’s comprehensive renaissance march currently undertaken by the Egyptian people, as evidenced by the numerous achievements by Egyptian athletes worldwide. Atop of such achievements come the CAF Award of the National Team of the Year as well as Coach of the Year. Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Salah etched his name into football history after being crowned African Player of the Year 2017. Salah fended off opposition from club-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, winner in 2015, to become the first Egyptian to win the most prestigious individual honor in African football. Egypt’s sports achievements were not confined to football only but included individual and team sports also. Egyptian male and female champions were crowned winners both regionally and globally. President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi honored 32 athletes who won medals and prizes in world sport championships as well as their coaches by bestowing the sport order on them. Such positive indicators represent just a glimpse of the aspirations of the Egyptian people in the days to come. 3 4 2017 CAF Awards: Egypt biggest winner World Cup-bound Egypt emerged as the biggest winner of the 2017 CAF Awards in Accra, Ghana, after Egypt scooped the most prestigious African Player of the Year, National Team of the Year as well as Coach of the Year. Egypt beat Super Eagles to take home the National Team of the Year, while their coach, Hector Cuper, denied Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr the Coach of the Year. Both countries will feature in this year’s World Cup in Russia, but Nigeria’s undoing in this contest was that they failed to qualify for AFCON 2017 in Gabon, where the Pharaohs were beaten in the championship game by Cameroon. held on Thursday, 4 January 2018, at the Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Salah International Conference Centre in Accra, etched his name into football history Ghana. Salah fended off opposition from after being crowned African Player of the club-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Year 2017. The 25-year old, who plays for Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, English side Liverpool picked the topmost winner in 2015, to become the first Egyptian prize at the Aiteo CAF Awards Gala 2017, to win the most prestigious individual honor 5 in African football. He polled 625 points, a member of the Asante Kotoko squad against 507 from Mane whilst Aubameyang that won the African Cup of Champions finished a distant third with 311 points. The Clubs in 1970 was decorated with the feat capped a superb year for the forward Legend award. CAF Executive Committee who played an influential role for both club member, Ahmed Yahya, who doubles as and country during the year under review. president of the Mauritania Football Salah’s feat was the climax of a memorable evening for Egyptian football which saw the Pharaohs being named National Team of the Year and Argentina-born trainer, Hector Cuper, Coach of the Year. Nigerian Asisat Oshoala was adjudged Women’s Player of the Year for the third time, after 2014 and 2016. She beat Cameroonian Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa to the top prize. However, Kgatlana took consolation in Banyana Banyana being named Women’s Federation National Team of the Year. Patson Daka was named Football Leader of the Year. There ensured Zambia was represented on the were two Platinum Awards, one to Ghana podium with the Youth Player of the Year, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- ten years after compatriot Clifford Mulenga Addo and global football icon, George was decorated Most Promising Talent Weah, now President-elect of Liberia. of the Year. African champions, Wydad The ceremony which was beamed live Athletic Club of Morocco deservingly went to millions across the world had Ghana home with the Club of the Year award. President Akufo-Addo, Fatma Samoura, Former Ghana player Ibrahim Sunday, FIFA General Secretary amongst some 6 high profile attendees. There were also Increasingly enjoying great popularity musical performances from Toofan from beyond the shores of Africa, the Awards is Togo, DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa, and bestowed on every individual on pure merit Nigerian septet of Patoranking, Wizkid, for his or her exemplary contribution towards Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Phyno and Flavour. the development and promotion of football, The Confédération Africaine de Football on and off the pitch within the outside and (CAF) Awards is a yearly ritual instituted within the continent. Notably, the awards to honor footballers and officials who have has continued to inspire and enhance the excelled in various departments of the game performance of footballers, which is one of the as well as making meaningful contribution contributing factors to standard and quality to its development in the continent. The of football enjoyed today on the continent. awards which date back to 1992 when the The recipients are worthy ambassadors, best African Footballer of the Year was projecting the good image of African recognized, has expanded to other categories football within the continent and the World with the inclusion of women footballers for in general, and serving as great role models. their enormous contribution to the game. 7 8 Sisi congratulates Egypt’s national team on 3 CAF titles President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi congratulated the national football team on winning the CAF’s award for the best national team of 2017 and Mohamed Salah for winning the best African Player of the Year award. “I congratulate the Egyptian national football team for winning the best African national team award, and I congratulate Egypt’s devoted son Mohamed Salah for winning the African Player of the Year award. I extend my best regards to the Egyptian people for this victory which highlights the value of effort and sincerity,” President Sisi said in a statement on his official Facebook page. President Abdel Fattah El- Sisi greeted the Egyptian people over grasping the Confederation 9 of African Football (CAF) awards for 2017. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed In a press statement released by Presidential Abu Zeid congratulated Salah and the Spokesman Ambassador Bassem Radhi, national team over the titles. “Congratulations President Sisi congratulated the Egyptian to Mohamed Salah for winning the African people over winning CAF football awards Player of the Year award, being a role model for 2017, especially the Egyptian player and a source of honor to Egyptians in front Mohammad Salah who won the best African of the world,” Abu Zeid said in a tweet, player award. congratulating the national team and its Sisi described Salah as a model of honesty coach Hector Cuper for being named the and handwork as well as an honorable best African national team and the best representation for his country worldwide. coach in 2017. The president also voiced his appreciation Salah is the first Egyptian player to take for Salah’s role as an example for the the CAF’s player of the year award. Egypt’s promising youth. The president also greeted national team was crowned the best team in Hector Cuper for winning the best coach Africa as well by the CAF. Egypt competed in Africa award for 2017, asserting that the for the title with Cameron and Nigeria’s State would continue its support for sport national teams. Cameron team won the and athletes to honor and place high Egypt’s African Cup of Nations in 2017 held in name in all international competitions. Gabon. 10 Egypt’s national team, coach Hector Cuper win CAF 2017 awards The Egyptian national team was named African national team of the year, and the Pharaohs coach Hector Cuper was named the continent’s coach of the year by the Confederation of African football (CAF) in their annual ceremony in Accra. After missing three editions of Africa Cup of Nations in a row, the Pharaohs went through the continental tournament’s final in Gabon earlier this year before losing to Cameroon 2-1. The Pharaohs ended also a 28 year World Cup drought after reaching the World tournament for the first time since 1990. Egypt’s coach Hector Cuper of Argentina was named also African Coach of The Year after guiding the Pharaohs to those achievements. “I am very happy for all the people in Egypt and I am thankful and happy for all the player too like Salah and all the players in the national team”, Cuper said after winning the award. 11 Head of the Egyptian Football interview, adding “I also thank the Egyptian Association, Hany Abu Reida, was awarded national team’s brilliant players, who love the prize before all the representatives of the their country, we all are happy with this Confederation of African Football (CAF) award”.