Cairo 24 was keen to conduct an interview with Mahmoud Saber, the star of the Egyptian Olympic team and who recently joined the Smouha Club from the ranks of the Egyptian Club. Pyramids, After his brilliance in the recent period, in order to talk about the most prominent experiences he went through and his start with the Pyramids Club, his letter to Ihab Galal, the struggle between the two poles to include him, then the dream of professionalism in Europe, and his scenes with Mikali at the Paris Olympics.
And to the text of the dialogue…
How do you feel after moving to Pyramids from Al-Nojoom in the first step to the Premier League?
I dreamed of playing in the Premier League under any form, and when Pyramids’ offer came, I strongly agreed, as it was a big step in my life, and I was very happy with it and the new challenge in my first experience in the Premier League.
What advice did Ihab Galal give you during his leadership of Pyramids?
Ihab Jalal is a great coach and a respected personality. He always worked with me individually and to develop me from the shortcomings that I was suffering from, such as the defensive aspect, and many of the things that I learned under his hand.
Do you think that Ihab Jalal was unfairly treated during his coaching career?
It is difficult to judge the career of Captain Ihab Galal throughout his life. He is a great coach and has coached many great teams, and it is possible that he was subjected to injustice in his experience with the Egyptian national team.
You played alongside Abdullah Al-Saeed at Pyramids. Do you think he is classified as a legendary player?
Abdullah Al-Saeed is certainly a legendary player, especially since he works to increase his physical efficiency all the time. He is a highly respected player, and when I teamed up with him at Pyramids, I learned a lot from him on and off the field.
Why did you choose to try ZFC despite the other offers you received?
I thought it would be a good experience for me, but I had no luck with them.
What is the reason for your absence from participating primarily with Zed, despite your brilliance in the Olympic team?
The matter does not concern me. In the end, this is a coach’s point of view, and it is the one that decides who participates and who sits as a substitute.
After Pyramids cut off your loan with Zed, were there negotiations with Zamalek Club during the previous winter Mercato?
Not true. Pyramids cut off my loan with Club Z, because the team needed me to return at this time, and the idea of me leaving permanently at this time was almost impossible.
Why did Micali insist on joining the Olympic team despite being excluded from participating as a starter at Pyramids?
He was convinced of my potential all the time, and he worked to motivate me and give me confidence, and I was trying to carry out all the tasks he asked of me on the field and help the team as much as possible.
Paris Olympics.. Did Mikaly sit with you in private before the France match?
Indeed, he told me to be ready to participate in the France match in a basic way, and I want to thank him very much for the trust he gave me from the first moment I joined the Olympic team.
What advice does Mikali give you on an ongoing basis and is he in constant contact with you?
Yes, he communicates with me constantly, and he always advises me to stay away from any pressure and distractions so that I can have the greatest amount of focus during training, and to be a professional player in my life outside of football. He told me that the opportunity will come at its appointed time, and my effort will not be wasted.
Do you think that the current generation of the Olympic team is capable of achieving achievements in the future?
Of course, our generation has many talents that will perform at a high level over the coming years, God willing, and we will offer something great for our team and the Egyptian public to be proud of.
Paris Olympics.. Do you think Mohamed Salah not joining the Olympic team had a negative impact?
This is something that there is no dispute over. Certainly, the presence of Mohamed Salah would have given us a moral influence outside the field, and an influence on the technical aspect of our performance on the field and against the big teams. Salah is like a leader and a legend for us, and everyone learns from him, as he always speaks to us well.
What about your first conversation with Hossam Hassan after joining the first team?
Firstly, I was happy to have the experience of playing under the leadership of Captain Hossam Hassan, as he is a great coach, and one of my goals was to participate with the first team. Praise be to God, I succeeded in scoring a goal, and I will work to provide the best performance in every match in which I participate.
I received an offer from Ukraine and an offer from the UAE club Al Wahda. What is the reason for the failure of the negotiations between the two offers?
Nothing happened, but I am satisfied and I thank God in any case, and as soon as possible I will achieve my dream of becoming a professional, God willing.
Tell us about your ambition to try out Smouha Club?
I hope that God will grant me success in this step and that it will be a good year for the team, and that we will obtain a place in the golden square, which will allow us to participate in the African Championship next year, and that I will perform well that will help me experience the professional experience.
