Boycott the Egyptian football team

[El-Basha]

Boycott the Egyptian football team

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Egypt coach demands team of true islamic believers

HAMZA HENDAWI
January 16, 2010

CAIRO: Egypt coach Hassan Shehata

wants his team to be comprised only of players who observe Islam, and says selection for the side will be based equally on religious piety and skill.
Shehata's comments, published in Egyptian newspapers, show how sport and religion are increasingly mixing in the overwhelmingly Muslim nation of some 80 million.

The intrusion of religion into sport is part of the country's gradual movement towards religious conservatism in the past few decades. More people are praying at mosques, most women adopt the Islamic veil in public, and there is diminishing tolerance for secular Muslims or minority Christians.There are no Christians in the squad defending its title at the African Cup of Nations in Angola. For years, Egyptian athletes have demonstrated their religious piety in front of fans and the media - kneeling down to offer a prayer of thanks after scoring or winning, or praying before games.

But Shehata's comments take religion in sports to a whole new level. He was quoted by Cairo newspapers as saying skill alone wouldn't guarantee anyone a place on the national team. He said ''pious behaviour'' was the main criterion for selection.

''Without it, we will never select any player regardless of his potential,'' he said. ''I always strive to make sure that those who wear the Egypt jersey are on good terms with God.''

One newspaper, the independent al-Shorouk, quoted Shehata as saying striker Mido, on loan from England's Middlesbrough to Cairo's Zamalek, was cut after his initial selection because he did not fit the manager's prerequisite for piety.

Mido was cut four days after his selection last month in a surprise decision given that Egypt already were missing through injury Amr Zaki, formerly a striker with England's Wigan, as well as attacking midfielder Mohammed Abu Trekka. Mido, who enjoys a reputation for hard partying, said he was insulted by his exclusion.

Shehata has not made a secret of the big role religion plays in what he does. He is consistently seen by millions of fans and TV viewers murmuring prayers during games. He often asks supporters to pray for the national side.

In Thursday's comments, Shehata boasted of how he convinced Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan, who plays for the German club Dortmund, to pray.''I did not like how he used to be aloof and not mix with the rest,'' Shehata said. ''I convinced him of the need to pray and how important it is. He has been praying since.''