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Pele
to the rescue
Will a Brazilian
diplomatic intervention save Egyptian soccer?
by Tarek Atia
(cairolive.com, February 13, 2002)
With the Egyptian
national soccer team fresh on the heels of humiliating failed attempts
at winning the African Cup and getting into the World Cup, a Brazilian
diplomat in Cairo has come up with a salvage plan. Al-Ahram
reports that Brazilian trainers may soon be making their way to Egypt as
part of a knowledge exchange program meant to bolster Egyptian youth
soccer.
Brazil, of course, is
the home of great soccer, and the plan is actually part of a larger program
that teaches Brazilian soccer great Pele's method around
the world. Undoubtedly the world's best soccer player, Pele -- who was
also Brazil's Sports Minister -- has dedicated much of his
post-retirement time to improving the world of youth soccer.
 Over
the years, Pelé has said that separating out the "best" for
special teams before age 14 is too early. Even in Brazil, the most
promising young players don’t start getting primed for professional
play until they are 14-15, he has said.
The Brazilian
program is meant to instill this and other ideas into the Egyptian youth
soccer mentality.
Who knows, there may
be some hope for Egyptian soccer after all. Combined with the Brazilian expertise,
perhaps the youth team (which fared a decent third in World Cup play,
far better than their elders) will grow up to take the adults team to
the 2006 World Cup.
Also note how forward
thinking diplomats can make a difference. Expertise doesn't all have
to come from "first world" countries. Every nation can export
the expertise it has to offer -- it just has to find the niche where
it's needed.
Something for Egypt
to think about regarding its export strategy as well?
Related on
cairolive.com:
Farewell
to Africa
Cameroon destroys national team's
hopes. 1-0 loss sends Gohari and Co. home, and
inspires the press as well... (February 7, 2002)
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