The story began 4 years ago, specifically in the wake of Mohamed Salah’s goal against the Congo, which qualified Egypt to the 2018 World Cup, where Mahmoud Abdel Azim grabbed attention with his famous celebration on the crutches on which he rested on the grounds of the Burj Al Arab stadium, as if he was using it to fly and not just move.
Local and even international media highlighted Abdel Azim, who gained some fame with some television interviews to feel a sense of social responsibility, and at the same time knew for the first time by chance the existence of international and official football championships for amputees.
Abdel Azim used to display his football skills in clips on the Internet, using his skills and crutches, which encouraged those in the same condition to contact him in order to organize the first football event for the owners of one foot in Egypt.
The first step
Abdel Azim said in an interview with “Sky News Arabia”, “The beginning was through a member of the House of Representatives, who organized a match in which 9 amputees participated.”
He added, “We succeeded in communicating with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which supported the idea and allocated a football committee for the amputee, to become official for the first time in Egypt. It succeeded in attracting many until we reached 140 Egyptian players with one foot, and a team was honored with the honor of carrying its leadership badge. “.
Abdel Azim confirmed the participation of the “Pharaohs” team in the upcoming African Nations Cup in Zambia, wishing that the dream would develop beyond that, with his country reaching the podiums in continental and international tournaments, and not just participating.
The first Egyptian club
Pyramids was the first Egyptian club to form a one-footed team, and about this, Abdel Azim said: “I was very pleased with the club’s step to sponsor football for amputees and form the first team.”
He added, “I dream of an Egyptian league that includes all clubs, and I hope to play for Al-Ahly when it is a team and to be its leader. I love this club and encourage it since childhood.”
Professional dream
The clips that Abdel Azim posted on the Internet reached some clubs outside Egypt, where he received offers for professionalism and has already moved to Bursaspor, which is competing in the Turkish league for amputees.
Abdul Azim tells the story of his professionalism, saying: “I received 4 Turkish offers at the beginning, after watching what I presented during the internet clips, and I chose to join the Bursaspor Club.”
He continued, “After that, I moved to the Turkish municipal club of Izmir and won the bronze medal with him in the cup and the league, and this season we qualified for the cup. My goal is to raise the flag of my country again on the podiums.”
star support
The captain of the Egyptian national team for the amputees sent a message to the Egyptian football stars, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal, Mahmoud Hassan (Trezeguet) of Aston Villa, and other players of Al-Ahly, Zamalek and Pyramids, asking for support for amputee football in Egypt.
He said, “The world’s stars support their national teams for the amputees, as Robert Lewandowski did with the Poland national team, the Brazilians Cafu and Roberto Carlos, and the Portuguese Luis Figo. I hope to see the same support from football stars in Egypt for our team.”
.