CAIRO: Egypt is hoping that some of players that beat Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 at the Under-20 World Cup will have caught the eye of scouts from leading European clubs.
Egypt is competing with only homebased players and will need to beat teams with far greater experience and players from the Spanish, Italian, English and French leagues.
While the likes of Fran Merida, Spain s 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder, will hope to become a first-team regular in the next couple of years, the options are far more limited for Egypt s budding talents.
I think we have a problem here in Egypt. The competition in the clubs is not good enough to grow some good players to play in Europe in this age (group), Egypt assistant coach Hany Ramzy told The Associated Press after Thursday s win.
Honestly, we don t have really good organization, structure, between 15 and 20 (years old). We don t work very professionally in this age (group). That s why it s very difficult to find some players under 19 to play in Europe.
Ramzy was his country s most expensive player at $1.5 million when he became the first ever Egyptian to play in Germany s Bundesliga when he joined Werder Bremen in 1994, and he spent 16 years of his career abroad.
When the senior Egypt team successfully defended its African Cup title last year, it did it with a nucleus of local talents like Emad Moteab and Amr Zaki, who went on to play in England s Premier League for Wigan. But crucially it had a smattering of players from foreign leagues such as Mido and Mohamed Zidan.
The good players, when they go to play with the national team, they have a good chance, Ramzy said. There is big chance for every player who plays in the (under-20) World Cup to go outside and play in a European team.
Ramzy hopes success here will help improve infrastructure and training facilities for young players.
To better harness their local talent, Egypt has broken with tradition by hiring a foreign coach for this tournament.
Miroslav Soukup, a Czech who guided the Czech Republic to the under-20s final in 2007, is trying to turn the likes of Hussam Arafat and Mohamed Talaat – who both scored against Trinidad and Tobago – into the Egyptian stars of tomorrow.
Ramzy, who played 124 games for Egypt, also has his role to play by pressing home the need for routine and discipline.
I bring my experience to younger players and explain to them how real football is in Europe, he said. Give the advice how to be a professional at this age … Think only about football.
Although Zaki and Mido are now back in Egypt playing for the Cairo-based club Zamalek, they both scored goals in the Premier League. The 26-year-old Mido, who is on loan from Middlesbrough, has a wealth of experience from spells with Gent, Ajax, Celta Vigo, Marseille, Roma, Tottenham and Wigan. Zidan, meanwhile, is with German club Borussia Dortmund.
Ramzy speaks uses their impact abroad to motivate the under-20s.
You make an example for these players if you do good for the national team, Ramzy said. If you play disciplined as a professional you will be top in your team. It s difficult, but we try.
Egypt next plays Paraguay in Group A on Monday and then faces Italy.
