Mohamed Aboutrika

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Mohamed Aboutrika

Personal information
Full name Mohamed Aboutrika
Date of birth November 7, 1978 (age 28)
Place of birth Giza, Egypt
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Nickname Trika
Al Fanan(The Artist)
El Saher (The Magician)
Al Maestro(The Maestro)
Position Attacking midfield
Club information
Current club Al-Ahly
Number 22
Youth clubs
Tersana
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
2000-2003
2004–present		 Tersana
Al-Ahly		  ? (28)
? (?)
National team**
2004–present Egypt  ? (?)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 1 July 2006.
** National team caps and goals correct
as of 1 July 2006.

Mohamed Aboutrika (Arabic: محمد ابو تريكة) (born November 7, 1978) is an Egyptian footballer. Aboutrika plays the offensive midfield position for Egypt's African Super Cup Championship club Al-Ahly as well as Egypt's National Football Team. He is considered one of the best African players, and he has been dubbed the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane. He have been nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Aboutrika started playing professionly for Egyption club Tersana before transferring to Al-Ahly in January 2004. Wearing his famous number 22 shirt, he was a main reason for his team winning the national league and CAF champions League two successive times, and a 65 match unbeaten run. He also helped Egyptian national team to win the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006.

Aboutrika's contribution came not only in finding the net but also in creating from his play making role just behind the strikers. His real class came in his timing, as he seemed to continually choose the right moment to burst into the action and grab the goals.

Contents

[edit] Memorable Shots

- An outrageous effort from 30 yards out in the CAF Champions League 2005 final against Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in Egypt's Military Academy Stadium.

- An unexpected left-shot volley in the 92nd minute in CAF Champions League 2006 final against CSS Sfaxien in Rades Tunisian Stadium, giving Al-Ahly a 1-0 lead and Al-Ahly win the title for the fifth time.

- Stroking a superbly flighted free-kick over the wall scoring the second goal for Al-Ahly against Auckland City FC of New Zealand. A game ended 2-0 for Al-Ahly, in the opening match of FIFA Club World Championship 2006.

- Scoring the winning penalty against Ivory Coast in a shoot-out to the decide the African Cup of Nations final in Cairo, Egypt 2006. A penalty gives his national team a continental record, which is, winning African cup five times.

[edit] First Steps

Aboutrika was born on 7th of November 1978 in the city of Giza. Like most football players, he lived a simple life playing football in the streets and honing his skills. When he turned 12, his friend, Magdi Abed, suggested he take the fitness test at Tersana Club.The second biggest club in Giza after Egyptian giants, Al-Zamalek. Indeed, Aboutrika did pass all the tests and joined the club. "I joined the club through personal effort and without favouritism".

With Tersana, Aboutrika demonstrated a proficiency which led to his promotion to the First Squad at the tender age of 17. He helped his team whose was playing in the second division, to promote to the Egyptian League, being their top scorer in two successive seasons. His first appearance close to the spotlight was in 2000-2001 Egyptian League, Aboutrika scored 6 goals and made many assistants to his teammates, forming a link with the Syrian striker Mohannad Al-Boshi leading him to score 11 goals, most of them was with the help of Aboutrika's accurate passes. As a result, Aboutrika was offered a place in the Egyptian national Olympic team, and the Egyptian national military team, but he didn't take his full chance, because Egyptian coaches concentrated their attention only on the players playing in famous clubs.

In 2001-2002, Aboutrika continued his playmaking skills and scored 7 important goals helping his team to stay in the Egyptian League. In 2002-2003, Aboutrika started to show his ability to score as well as making goals, he scored 11 goals for his team, and this is a very good rate for a midfielder player playing in a relatively weak team in the Egyptian League. The Egyptian newspapers started then to spot the light on this player's promising talent.

[edit] Real Start

In the first part of Egyptian league 2003-2004, Aboutrika scored 3 goals for Tersana, but demonstrated a high proficiency, with his skills and killing passes. So, he was offered a position on Egypt's and one of Africa's best football teams, Al-Ahly. He scored 11 goals in his first and only 13 appearances with Al-Ahly in 2003-2004 league, coming in the second place between top scorers in the Egyptian League with 14 goals. Since 2004 when he joined Al-Ahly club, Aboutrika scored 6 goals in Egypt Derby against Al-Zamalek, the Egyptian record is 7 goals scored, and he have a great chance to break.

In 2005, Al-Ahly regained the Egyptian League Championship after four years out of top position. Aboutrika came in the third place between topscorers in the Egyptian League. Also in 2005, Aboutrika played a great role in Al-Ahly victory of the CAF Champions League 2005, and qualified for FIFA Club World Championship 2005. With Aboutrika on-board, Al-Ahly was about to make a new world record for the longest winning-streak for a football club. Some have commented that the combination with Emad Motab and Mohamed Barakat formed the most formidable triangle in African Soccer, and they were given the moniker of "The Bermuda Triangle". The Angolan striker Flavio Amado replaces Barakat sometimes, playing a great role in forming this dangerous triangle.

Aboutrika took the Best Player in Egypt title, two successive times 2004 and 2005. And have a great chance in winning the title for the third successive year 2006 making a personal Egyptian record, of the award given by the Egyptian Football Association.

Aboutrika's efforts with Ahly since day one meant that he was given an Egyptian National Team position, and he debuted against Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly match before the World Cup 2006 qualifiers in March 31 2004 in Arab Contractors Stadium. His National debut game ended 2-1 for the Egyptians. He started as an attacker, but was found to excel when he played his normal position behind the attackers in the midfield position. Aboutrika scored 5 goals in his first 6 appearances with Egypt.

[edit] Fascinating Player in 2006

Aboutrika dictating his team rhythm with his skill and vision
Enlarge
Aboutrika dictating his team rhythm with his skill and vision

Serving a powerful cocktail of skill and strength in every game he played in the year 2006, Aboutrika was certainly the key player for his team Al-Ahly, and his national team Egypt.

He proved his international team trump card en route to victory in the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006, in February 2006, where he scored two important goals versus Libya and Ivory Coast. He made the winning goal assistant, in the Semi-final match against Senegal when Amr Zaki scored in the 89th minute. In the final match, Aboutrika scored the decisive penalty shootout which gave Egypt the title.

Aboutrika leads his team Al-Ahly to the African title CAF Champions League 2006 for the second successive time in Nov 2006, when he was the competition top scorer with 8 goals, and scored the final match winning goal against CS Sfaxien in the 92th minute.

He participitated Also with Al-Ahly in winning the African Super Cup days after the African Cup of Nations in February. After that he got the Egyptian League in June when he was the top scorer by 18 goals, and won Egyptian Soccer Cup, then the Egyptian Super Cup in July when he scored the winning goal against ENPPI-although he was a bit injured since the first half-in the 92th minute, which seems to be his minute of luckliness.

Aboutrika won all the competitons he participated in this year. He was the top scorer in two competitons, scoring in other ones, and making a brilliant assistants to strikers. So, It wasn't strange that Japanese newspapers nominates Aboutrika and Ronaldinho to be the best players in the FIFA Club World Championship 2006 in Japan, the last tournament in Aboutrika's great year. Al-Ahly is the African representatives, and the first team ever to be qualified two successive times to this championship.

In the opening match of the tournament against Auckland City FC of New Zealand ,Dec 10th 2006, Aboutrika helped Al-Ahly to secure a book a semi-final date with Internacional of Brazil. Al-Ahly won 2-0 easily, and Aboutrika capped a fine display by stroking a superbly flighted free-kick over the wall scoring the second goal for his team. As well as netting with his delightful right-foot effort, Aboutrika was at the heart of most his side's best moves, dictating the rhythm with his skill and vision.

In semi-final, Al-Ahly faced Brazilian Internacional on Dec 13th 2006, and Aboutrika played a good game, but his accurate shot hit the brazilian right-hand post to deprive his team from a deserved draw. Al-Ahly lost the match 2-1, but proved a good efficiency, yet the ball refused to be netted in many available chances to score in brazilian goalkeeper. 'Match Report'

[edit] African footballer of the year 2006

Aboutrika, who's Egypt's new idol according to the FIFA.com expression'1' , has a great chance to win the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award. Mohamed Aboutrika has been nominated for the Award along with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o. The other nominees for the honour are Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien, who plays for English champions Chelsea, and Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu, who has twice grabbed the award. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, on the 18th of January 2007.'2'

Aboutrika said in November 2006: 'I would love to be nominated for the CAF Best Player award. That would make 2006 a very special year!'.'3'

Al-Ahly coach Manuel Jose de Jesus describes Aboutrika as "the best football player in Africa". He assured this meaning saying: "Aboutrika is priceless for us". Egyptian Tottenham Hotspur forward Mido declared that Aboutrika is his most preferable player. He said in Oct 2006, "Playing besides Aboutrika helps any player score, with one touch on the ball, he makes you face the target".

[edit] Good Manners

Aboutrika is a player known off the pitch for his humility and good manners. His personality is said to be as great as his silky skills.

After winning the title of African Champions League 2006 for Al-Ahly, he gave a declaration which had been chosen by many newspapers and programs as 'The Declaration of the year'. When newspapers reporters praised him and his goal which they considered the main reason for winning the tournament, he replied humply:

" We need to stop this habit of praising a definite player. It isn't Aboutrika, but the whole team who got the Cup. Without the others' efforts, I can't ever make anything. Football is a game played by many players, it isn't Tennis or Squash"

As his soccer star status grew in Africa, he turned his sights to humanitarian issues. Aboutrika says:

“Every athlete has a humanitarian role in society. He doesn't live solely for himself, but for others too. I like to participate in charity work and try my best to help the poor and penniless. I'm also seeking to use soccer in humanitarian work."

Aboutrika turned his sights to humanitarian issues. He is a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger
Enlarge
Aboutrika turned his sights to humanitarian issues. He is a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger

Based on that idea, Aboutrika joined UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors the Brazilian player Ronaldo, and French player, Zinedine Zidane, in addition to 40 international soccer stars in 2005 for a ‘Match Against Poverty’ in Germany, with the aim of raising funds and increasing awareness about the issue worldwide.

“In that humanitarian match, sports people said ‘no to poverty’ in one strong voice, standing up to beat it once and for all," Aboutrika explains. The match was held in Düsseldorf, Germany with the support of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIFA.

One of Aboutrika’s soccer role models, is the Egyptian player, Mahmoud El-Khateeb. Meanwhile, off the pitch he follows the example of the Prophet Mohammed. '4'

He volunteered to appear in a WFP 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) in which he draws attention to the tragic fact that 25,000 people die from hunger every day, 18,000 of them children.

“Hunger takes away a child every five seconds. We have to move immediately and lend each other a hand because every second counts. This is a game we have to win,” says Aboutrika in the PSA. The PSA is being aired on Middle Eastern TV stations which are broadcasting it for free.

Aboutrika is a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger. He believes that poverty is a double-edged sword, as it can either give rise to feelings of despair, or help the poor person to persevere and be determined. Aboutrika wishes that all those who suffer from despair could develop determination and face their difficulties with strength.

"Islam deals with the problem of poverty through Zakat (spending a fixed portion of one's wealth for the poor or needy), where the rich feel the plight of the poor," says Aboutrika. "We have to help the poor as much as we can so that they don’t feel alienated in their own society" he says.'5'

Aboutrika shoted another PSA in Egypt, for helping the childs infected by Cancer. He made it for free, and donated for the infected Children to help building a hospital for them.

[edit] Honours

National Team

Club

Individual

[edit] References

1 FIFA.com: Fab five to fight it out(05 Dec 2006)

2 FIFA.com: CAF African Footballer of the Year

3 FIFA.com: Interview with Aboutrika (06 Dec 2006)

4 FIFA.com: Another Interview with Aboutrika (08 Nov 2006)

5 FIFA.com: Another Interview with Aboutrika (02 May 2006)

6 WFP.org: Egyptian footballer Aboutrika plays against hunger

7 WFP.org: Mohammad Aboutrika scoring against poverty

8 BBC: Ahly win Egyptian Super Cup

9 BBC: Ahly retain African title

10 FIFA.com: Al-Ahly make fast start against Auckland City FC

[edit] External Links

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