African Football fiesta

Today the party begins with the opening derby between Egypt and Libya, we have to take three points tonight! My prediction is 2-1 for the Pharaos, but it will be a tough match. So JPierre, and all of you football fans, Ahly or Zamalek dosen´t matter this time, Enjoy it!

Madinet Nasr

For all of u living in Madinet Nasr, or other satelite cities like 6 uktubar, 10th of Ramadan, Sadat City and New Asyut, this one is for you, an article by Clare Davies It´s from the new winter edition of the Bidoun magazine with Negar Azimi & Co.

Cairo, Urban planning

Hossam Hassan makes the squad

The Egyptian squad for the African Nations Cup on homesoil in January-February was announced today. Among the 23-member squad was the icon of Egyptian fotball, Hossam Hassan. Arguably the best player in Egypt the last 15 years. Hossam, 39 years old, and once the most capped international player in the world(perhaps again soon). I myself doubt the wisdom of coach Shahata in including Hossam in the Squad. He´s known for his hottempered personality, and eventough he possess great qualities on the pitch and could and should be used as a supersub in the last 30 minutes of the game. I´m not quite convinced that he will conform to the will of the coach, but i´m hoping to be wrong in my presumption. I remember him playing in the world cup opening match against the then European champions Holland with the fantastic trio of Reikard, Gullit and Van Basten and he was the best on the pitch. I also remember him scoring 3 goals for Xamax Neuchatel against Real Madrid, some years later, the club who at that time had an Egyptian trio of Hossam his twin brother Ibrahim and Hany Ramzy. Hossam made his debut in the African nations cup in Cairo 1986, and hopefully he will end his career, as a international player by winning the gold with the Pharaos in Madinat Nasr in a few weeks time.

In the squad there is 10 players from the African champions al Ahli and five from their local rivals al Zamalek. It will be interesting to see what people like Muhammad Barakat and Abou Treka can do, as well as Ibrahim Said. And if mido scores regularly as he does for Tottenham in the Premiership, then it could be an interesting tournament for the Pharaos.

Aíd al Adha& al Hajj

Happy Aid al Adha to all my readers!

This is the beginning of the Hajj, and i would like to share this lovely series of photos, showing the essence of what the pilgrimage is all about. This was made by the talented Reem al Feisal.

2005 , the breaktrough of the Egyptian blog

al Ahram Weekly has a piece on us, the Egyptian Blogosphere. The landscape has became bigger during the year. 500 blogs according to the article . Among the first blogs that caught my eye, was Muhammeds from Cairo with love, Ritzy´s Miss Mabrouk and Orientalism, while those are no longer with us, hopefully not permanently. The Queen of the blogospere, the 0ne and only Baheyya is alive and kicking, and always providing the best insight to things of a sociopolitical nature. Speaking of social, one new star is the Egyptian Mozza, breaking a social taboo, writting on the ins and outs of being in Love.

On 2005 and the future of the Arab blogosphere in general, Haitham, the GV arab world editor has some wise words, also if you haven´t looked at the GV London summit in December, go ahead. You could also read Becky Hogge´s article on the summit

Finaly there is a new arab world aggregator for blogs in arabic and english called toot Welcome and good luck to you Guys.

And a happy 2006 to all of U!

Egyptian blogosphere, Global Voices

Bad Democrat

This month, President Hosni Mubarak is among the candidates of Open Democracy´s candidates for Bad Democrat of the month. The contest started two months ago, and has so far produced two monthly winners. Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and John Howard of Australia amongst stiff competition, from the likes of Robert Mugabe, CIA and Islam Karimov. By the end of the year , there will be 12 candidates , from among whom Open Democracy´s readers will crown Bad Democrat of the year.. The candidates can be individuals or institutions. I was going to call for candidates of Bad Democrat of the parliamentary elections in Egypt in November and December, and also candidates for the Bad Egyptian Democrat of the year award 2005, but will postphone this for a while. Instead urging you to use youré democratic right, and by the way, no voter registration needed! So go cast youré vote on Open Democracy´s website, and please take some time, browsing through their website, it´s in my view among the best on the net.

Hosni Mubarak

Merry Christmas to all Orthodox Christians!

This is my first entry in 2006. I would like to take the opportunity to wish all Orthodox Christians a merry Christmas! Of course especially to my Coptic readers in and outside of Egypt. And please go easy on the food!

Christmas