Aboutrika: "the defeat make us strong"

After being not classified by third consecutive time for a Grand Championship, veteran midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika believes that Egypt should consider his failure in the last African Cup of Nations as an incentive to put an end to a long streak without participation in the FIFA ™ World Cup.

"Of course that defeat us hit, but must move forward and improve for the qualifiers." "We have a great opportunity to reach the world, but to do this we must strive to maximize", told FIFA.com player of the to the Ahly.

This positive attitude does not surprise anyone, since the 33-year-old player is known as "El Santo" in his country by his calm temperament. However, it is impossible to mitigate the effects of the defeat. The fall by a global score of 4-3 to the Central African Republic will prevent the Pharaohs, continental champions on seven occasions, participate in the African Cup of Nations 2013. It's one frustration in his poor campaign in 2012, joins pain by the absence in the first World Cup of FIFA held on the African continent.

The defeat also increased pressure on the technician of the national team, the American Bob Bradley, who had been receiving rave reviews since it replaced the successful Hassan Shehata in November of last year. There are many who currently call for his dismissal, while Egypt is reaching their first World Cup since 1990, but Aboutrika is not in agreement, and believes there to be patient, especially now that the country tries to recover from the political and social chaos experienced recently and given the current problems of security in the stadiums. "Obviously, external factors affect the performance of the team", said Aboutrika. "But Bradley should receive credit that deserves for what it has achieved so far, not to mention he never left the team even in the most difficult moments." "You're working under special circumstances and I think that it should continue under the command of the national team."

Olympic performance
Aboutrika was able to silence his detractors with a series of good performances that demonstrated that its quality is still intact. The attacking midfielder scored a triplet for his club, to the Ahly in the African Champions League group stage, and then kept their good level with the team after playing a great game in the victory by 2-0 over Mozambique and score two goals in another victory, this time 3-2 against Guinea. Its performance did not pass unnoticed to Hany Ramzy, coach of the Olympic team, who included him in the combined will take part in London 2012, as one of three players older than 23 years with teammates Ahmed Fathi and Emad Meteb. "For me is an honour to represent the country in an important tournament." "I can not reject a call for the selection," said the player, author of 10 goals in 19 matches for the World Cup of FIFA during his career.

However, before London 2012, midfielder awaits a very important challenge with the to Ahly in the match against the eternal rival, Zamalek, on 22 July, corresponding to the CAF Champions League. His team, six times continental champion, achieved a triumph in the last minutes before the Congolese TP Mazembe. On the other hand, the Zamalek visited the Ghanaian cast Berekum Chelsea in Accra, where he lost 3-2 as a result of somewhat in the time of discount of the second part. Aboutrika created the move of the first goal of his own against the Mazembe with a clever pass by the band left for the end Walid Suleiman, whose center back topped Meteb door.

"We started very well, especially if we take into account that we overcome one of the favourites." "We play better than many expected, given the exceptional situation that crosses the Egyptian football", declared the talented creator in reference to the suspension of all national Egypt competitions due to the tragedy of Port Said in February. "In fact, it has been our best start in the group stage in the past three years." "In 2009 we do not classify us, in 2010 drew 1-1 with the Heartland of Nigeria in our debut and in 2011 match 3-3 at home with the Moroccan Casablanca Wydad".

"A start like this motivates us to continue playing with much spirit to compensate the absence of our fans," says Aboutrika in conclusion. "The defeat of the Zamalek I saddened, but I am sure that both sets will arrive far in the Championship when we have the support of our public in the stands." "A triumph of either of the two will be an achievement for the country football in this difficult times that we are living."