EGYPT: Are politicians exploiting Egypt's football success?

Egypt's  seventh African Cup soccer championship  has set the whole country alight, bringing out hundreds of thousands of fans to celebrate and more than a few opportunistic politicians trying to bask in the limelight.

Sunday's victory gave Egypt its third consecutive African Cup title, a record unmatched by any other national team in a continental or global competition. It is understandable that such a win brought joy to millions of soccer fans, who were still bitter just two months after missing out on a place in this summer's World Cup  in South Africa.

Soccer has been a source of pride for Egyptians over the last eight years. Amid political, social and financial setbacks, millions have found their saving grace in watching their teams perform well on the international stage.

Nonetheless, what is increasingly notable is the Egyptian government's endless care and support for soccer in a manner that makes other political, social and economic matters seem pale by comparison.

While President Hosni Mubarak and Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif were first to welcome the Egyptian team at Cairo Airport upon their return from Angola – where the African Cup took place – similar attention was not evident when hundreds of families were made homeless by heavy floods that swept across the Sinai Peninsula and Southern Egypt early last month.

Mubarak's son Gamal, who is head of the ruling National Democratic Party's policies committee and  is being groomed to succeed his father, flew to Luanda to support Egypt during the final game with his older brother Alaa. It is apparent to many that since soccer became one of the very few sources of happiness to Egyptians, politicians have been doing their utmost to connect themselves to the national team.

Ibrahim Eissa, editor of the independent Al Dustour, believes that despite some politicians' efforts to appear close to soccer, their popularity will not increase among the poor. 

"How many times have we seen Gamal Mubarak cheer for our team from the stands? How many times have we seen Egyptian Football Assn. members hypocritically praise politicians for improving the game? Did it make people love them more? Never," Eissa wrote on Tuesday.

"Hypocrites' attempts to rub shoulders with our soccer players and their achievements has become similar to some fans who jam our streets, start fires and harass girls while celebrating any big win," he added.

-- Amro Hassan in Cairo

Photo: President Hosni Mubarak with Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan carrying the African Cup. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Sherif]

What else have they to show for their 30 year nightmare but ineptitiude, incompetence, mismanagement, despotism, nepotism, torture, favouritism, cronyism..... want more? They are hopelessly hopeless. Baradei for President 2011

[khalda yassin]

very true...and indeed, hypocrites' attepmts at rubbing shoulders clearly remain aloft, fake and largely inapt!

[khalda yassin]

very true....and indeed, hypocrites' attempts at rubbing shoulders clearly remain aloft, fake and largely inapt!

[Dabbour]

The reason is that the Egyptian politicians didn't acheive any positive acheivements in the past 3 decades of ruling a country which is rich by its resources, i.e. they failed in all fields (education, health, development... etc.)

That's why I totally agree with (opportunistic politicians) they have nothing else to be proud of :S

For me it's not enough to be proud of your history, present and future should be considered

We are in need for a fair elected person who can lead the country...

The main problem is that the modified constitution which was modified by those politicians didn't give any practical chance for the respected people we are camping for them to run the coming 2011 election like Dr.ElBaradei

WE NEED A CHANGE ... elbaradei2011.com

[Muhammad]

when some one is dying he tries to find any room to breath ...

[Rami henry]

as an addendum to my previous post...

so the only thing that satisfies the masses' very tiny sense of patriotism is football......in addition to that there's this really weird craze of conspiracy theories relating to Egypt's many failures...theories including Christians, Zionists, etc...when the truth is, the original problem is with US...

strange how football moves people, when seven people murdered in cold blood because they're Christians doesn't, or when flash floods kill tens of people in Upper Egypt doesn't....

I , again, emphasize that I ADORE MY COUNTRY, and that showing its mistakes to the world (it's already public) does NOT mean I will personally allow anyone to mascarade as saviors and interfere with my country....change should and will come from the inside.....

[Rami henry]

This article is unfortunately true....

as Ola said...many in the Egyptian population is used to this and this method actually backfires on the government...however, most people in Egypt live below the economical or even social poverty line...they only look beneath their feet, their only concern is where their next Egyptian pound is coming from...they have absolutely no sense of civic responsibility, and who can blame them, when the government's method of operation is just feed the multitudes (and even then, they can't achieve this goal fully!), and not educate the people....

However, I am hoping change comes from the inside of this wonderful country and not through outside interference.......

[Dabbour]

A very truthfull article.

Camping for Elbaradei for Presidency of Egypt_ 2011, check it on facebook

[ola azmy]

yes ..its quite right .. but most of us are wellaware of this play .. we are kind of used to it.. its been a long time (30years) we are watching it over and over ...but as long as we have this huge percentage of ignorants and illiterates they are gonna repeat it over and over .. poor people they have no achivements not so ever but this one in football and giving birth to more inhabitants whos as incompetent as they are ( no education - bad health care - v bad enviromental effect - unemployed .....ext )

[Ahmed El Masry]

the Egyptian forger leader Hosny Mubarak used to utilize the soccer achievements as it's his own achievements .... but the people already know about his endless failures in everything in Egypt .... he is the worst Egyptian Leader ever.. the people are struggling to change him by any means , That’s why we can notice how are the Egyptian people considering El Elbaradei to be the coming Egyptian leader.

[Ahmad Afdal]

The article perfectly touched a painful nerve among the egyptian community amid lot of failures in political , economics , science , social fields and lack of human rights and democracy in Egypt.

So soccer was and is the only vent for the Egyptians to vent their happiness and/or frustration from the ongoing conditions and it appeared clearly from the widespread mania and euphoria in the streets regardless of gender and level of education.

But the attempts to exploit such success by the politicians wouldn't work , since next days the euphoria would vaporize and the stagnant problems would re-surface and poke with its ugly head. it was nice opiate or hash for some days , but for sure its effects would gradually decline in front of the currect and harsh conditions among the poor residents of Egypt

[Diab]

Yeah but luckily the Angolian camera man wasn't searching for Gamal Mubarak every time Egypt scored a goal like his Egyptian counterparts.

[Hesham Mansour]

I totally disagree with the article and its premise. The president and his two sons always supported the national team during it’s down times and, even before, it’s up times. After unfairly losing 0-1 to Algeria in the play-off in Sudan, every Egyptian was angry, sad, and disappointed and even some players have threatened to quit, at least internationally. The president and his two sons were steadfast in their support and encouragement to the team. They have quickly welcomed the team in the presidential palace and encouraged everyone to forget what happened and concentrate on the future and insisted that they have full confidence in everyone in the team. They even called on the press to keep supporting the team and tune down its criticisms. To me, this is leadership that should be appreciated not criticized! We all know now, after this unprecedented achievement, that this was one of the forces that have made the team much stronger and more confident in its ability. I find it really strange that the media is always quoting the negative view even in the shiniest moments!!!

[muezzin]

heh.... panem et circenses.

Egypt's kleptocracy is corrupt to the core.

[Mohammed Helal]

Not that I disagree with the article, but for the sake of the paper's credibility, Alaa Mubarak is the older brother of Gamal Mubarak and not vice-versa as referred to here.

And of course, politicians do take opportunity of such fringe achievements to cover for their total failure in running the country.