SME – Written by: Muhammad Al-Joker
Egypt is the beating heart of Arabism. Since I started working in the field of sports journalism in the late seventies, many teachers have accompanied me during my studies.
And the Egyptian professors, from whom we learned, and gained knowledge from the teachers, whom Egypt sent during the days of the late leader Gamal Abdel Nasser. The relationship extends for decades, is eternal and strategic, and will remain so. In this same month, in July 1970, the delegation of the Al-Ahly Club in Dubai had established its training camp. For 45 days, there the club management met Saeed Heshmat, the Minister of Youth and Sports at that time, where he welcomed the first Emirati team to camp in Egypt. Al-Nasr Club also received a letter stating the approval of the Egyptian Minister of Youth 54 years ago from Dr. Muhammad Safi El-Din Abu Al-Ezz with his approval and welcome to establish the Al-Nasr camp. In Cairo.
Today, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, a lover of the Emirates, continues as Minister of Youth and Sports, where he worked, and he has a good relationship with all athletes, and his stay for this long period, which is considered the largest in the history of ministers of this important portfolio, is an affirmation of the presidency’s confidence in him, wishing Egyptian sports and the Minister every progress. This is good, because it benefits Arab sports, which does not deny the Egyptian role in its beginning.
It sent dozens of technicians to Arab countries to provide contributions and assistance at the beginning of the sixties. For decades, the relationship was unique and of a very special kind, the relationship of two close brothers, bound by common interests that were indispensable to each other.
Because sports are the true standard for building and strengthening the relationship between Arab peoples, and even the standard for progress and development for every society, Egyptian sports have played their pioneering role in most Arab countries, especially with all the countries of the Arabian Gulf, especially in the beginnings of the 1970s after the establishment of these countries. And its independence… I swear it was behind the intention.
Image explanations
Nasser Lootah, the first Chairman of Al-Ahly’s Board of Directors, while heading the club’s delegation, meets with Saeed Heshmat, Minister of Youth and Sports, in 1970.
A message addressed to the late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid, God willing, from the Minister of Youth and Sports, approving the establishment of the Victory Camp in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The current Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, sponsors a book party, “The Emirates and Egypt, a Love Story,” on June 9, 2022.
The other event is the second part of the book during the joint agreement between the Emirates and Egypt on October 28, 2022, during the symposium entitled The sports relationship between the two brotherly countries.
