The problem with Egyptian Football

The big problem with talking about the problems of Egyptian football is that it's an area that also addresses the problems of being Egyptian. Which Egyptians don't want to hear about. These include our penchant for clinging to the past, our questionable work ethic, our mistrust of modernization and our belief that changing your destiny is a little bit blasphemous (it's not) and that when we fail, it's because God wanted us to fail (I'm sure he's got better things to do).

I guess what brought this up is Egypt's recent draw with Cameroon in Yaouende, which cost the Indomitable Lions a berth in the next World Cup. Since we'd already been eliminated from contention, the only role left for us to play was that of spoilers (except to the Ivory Coast, who qualified at Cameroon's expense). Not that I mind that we played hard(ish) and honorably against a nation that we've been very competitive with. What pissed me off was the joy of our players, our coaches and our media at spoiling a party in waiting. It was exagggerated, unfounded and frankly, kind of classless. I would have liked to see us respectfully commiserate with the Cameroonian players (who were obviously disraught), instead of dancing in glee (especially when a) we didn't qualify ourselves and b) we didn't even win the friggin' game!

Which segues into 10 things that are wrong with Egyptian football:

1. Zero sportsmanship. players are rude, managers are dishonest, crowds are hostile, belligerent and fans of winning, not the game.
2. Players are treated like babies. Which means they don't have character so when things go bad on the field, they go to pieces. I've never seen us come back from a goal or two down. No character.
3. Players don't understand the concept of a team. Because Egyptians don't know the first thing about teamwork. We view it as a slight to defer to someone else.
4. Mentally Weak. Psychologically, we do a poor job preparing our boys for big and new events. We wilt when it comes to a big occasion because we lack mental preparedness. No big-time players. When the going gets tough, we rarely get going.
5. We don't understand the strategy of the game. The importance of keeping your shape, the value of communication with your team mates, the importance of passing quickly. We all want to dribble and we all want to showboat.
6. We blame each other when things go wrong, instead of rallying around each other. Again, bad team concept.
7. FEAR. Performnce anxiety, fear of failure, inferiority complex, whatever it is, we never conquer our fears.
8. The people in charge of Egyptian football are bureaucrats, not football people. They're corrupt and interested in their own welfare. Which is probably because the government is corrupt and interested in its own welfare.
9. We rely on God first, preparation second when everyone knows that it should be the other way round.
10. Finally, as a nation, we abhor the concept of individuality. We see it as 'flying out of formation'. Differences are ridiculed, not embraced. When everyone knows that creativity stems from individuality, as long as the team goals are observed.

We reached the World Cup Finals in 1934 and then, 56 years later, in 1990. It may be another 56 years before we get back in there.