Ali Hamdi, the current midfielder for Bank Al Ahli and former player for Talaa Al Jaish, believes he is the standout defensive midfielder in the Egyptian league at the moment. He ranks ahead of Pyramids' Mohanad Lashin and Al Ahly's Marwan Attia, emphasizing that "Imam Ashour is the best in Egypt because he stands out from the rest, and his abilities qualify him to play in the strongest European leagues."
Zizo Struggles to Recapture Previous Form
Hamdi added during an interview on the "Stars of the League" program with Ahmed Al Masry on ON Sport FM, "I had hoped for Imam Ashour to continue his professional journey abroad because he is a great player, but he chose to stay at Al Ahly. Zizo is not at the level he was with Zamalek, but he is starting to regain some of his form with Al Ahly right now, as he has become one of the key players for the Reds this season, scoring and assisting goals. Ismaily is a big team, and their relegation has affected everyone; I never expected that to happen. As for the newly promoted teams, there are no indicators about their situation yet; the league is still long. I hope to win a title with Bank Al Ahli this season and join the Egyptian national team in the next camp, and then I hope to join one of the big clubs and play in the upcoming World Cup with the Pharaohs."
Playing for Al Ahly or Zamalek is a Great Honor
Ali Hamdi confirmed that he is fully focused on his team this season and that playing for Al Ahly or Zamalek is a great honor, stating: "I am not thinking about transferring to either of the two giants right now, before winning a title with Bank Al Ahli. I started my career in the youth team of Al Masry, then I moved to Talaa Al Jaish on loan, and later I transferred permanently, playing with the military team for 5 seasons before joining Bank Al Ahli. Captain Gomaa Mashhour is a great coach who has played a significant role in everything I have achieved, and he and Captain Ayman El Ramady are among the most influential coaches in my football career. I was saddened after my permanent departure from Al Masry, as it is a big and historic club, but I managed to stand on my feet again and improve my level, and with God's help, I will move to the place I aspire to play in. Al Masry is a big and historic club, and the poor results since the start of the season have created several crises; the team needs a win to get out of the current bad situation, and I believe the club is capable of returning to its natural position and will be among the top six by the end of the first half of the season."
Ali Hamdi: I Will Start for Egypt if I Join
Ali Hamdi confirmed that he is currently fully focused on his team in training and matches, and that he has left the negotiations with any club interested in signing him to his agent, emphasizing: everything will come at the right time. I have not felt sad about not joining Al Ahly or Zamalek; I am happy to be at Bank Al Ahli, and I firmly believe that everything will come at its time. Playing for Al Ahly or Zamalek is a dream for any player; both are big clubs, and wearing the red or white jersey is an honor for any player. I hope that the international break will not affect us; we managed to bounce back after two rounds, and our rhythm has become fast, but God willing, we will continue to maintain our full focus and play every match with all our strength, leaving everything to the management and coaching staff. The Egyptian national team has made everyone happy with its performance in the World Cup, and Captain Hossam Hassan is a great coach who does not rely on a specific group but gives opportunities to everyone. God willing, he will lead the team far, and I hope to join the national team and play under his leadership as soon as possible. The perception of players from Al Ahly, Zamalek, and Pyramids differs from other teams regarding national team selections; everyone knows this due to the strength of the trio and the fan presence for the two giants. God willing, I will join the Egyptian national team and start, and I also hope for the return of Mohamed Hamdi and the inclusion of Osama Faisal and Mahmoud El Gazzar from Bank Al Ahli."
Ali Hamdi: Our Goal is to Be Among the Top Six and Compete in Africa
Ali Hamdi continued that Bank Al Ahli faced significant bad luck in the first two matches of the league, especially the loss to Abou Qir Fertilizers, the newly promoted team, despite putting in a strong performance. He emphasized: "We managed to bounce back quickly with two consecutive victories over Petrojet and Ghazl El Mahalla, and God willing, we will be among the top six. This season's league will be extremely challenging, as only 6 teams will be in the champions' group, which complicates matters further. However, we have committed to being among the big teams and playing in Africa next season. There are many teams that will compete fiercely this season, such as Bank Al Ahli, Ceramica Cleopatra, and Al Masry, and I hope to be among the teams in the top four and participate in continental competitions next season. Al Ahly is showing a strong and different level this season compared to last season, as all matches are tough and the competitors have become stronger. The current goal is to win three points in every match, not just to perform well, as everyone is striving to collect as many points as possible now to ease later. The competition for the league title this season will be between Al Ahly and Pyramids, with Ceramica Cleopatra, led by Captain Ali Maher, entering the race from a distance, but things seem more difficult for Zamalek this season."
