In a move reflecting a revitalization of Egyptian sports, former Egyptian national handball team star and Al-Ahly board member, Captain Gawhar Nabil, was officially appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, succeeding Dr. Ashraf Sobhi. This decision was part of the new cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, bringing to a close Sobhi's nearly eight-year tenure at the helm of the ministry.

Behind the scenes of the selection and competition

The selection of Gawhar Nabil was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the result of careful consideration, as revealed by informed sources. The final nominations for the position narrowed down to two prominent figures in the sports world: Amr El-Sonbaty, president of Heliopolis Club, and Gawhar Nabil. The latter ultimately prevailed, officially assuming the role, drawing on his diverse experience encompassing professional sports practice, administrative work, and marketing.

The era of Ashraf Sobhi: Farewell and achievements

With the departure of Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, an administrative era that began with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly assuming the premiership for the first time in 2018 comes to an end. This period witnessed the renewal of confidence in Sobhi following the 2024 presidential elections. In a final scene, the former minister was keen to bid farewell to the ministry's employees, expressing his gratitude for their assistance throughout his tenure, and emphasizing his satisfaction with the achievements and development in sports infrastructure and youth facilities during his time in office.

Jawhar Nabil: From the "Golden Generation" to the Ministry

The new minister, aged 53, is considered an icon of Egyptian and Arab handball. His name is synonymous with the "golden generation" that made history for Egypt, as he was a key player on the national team that won the 1993 World Youth Championship hosted by Cairo—an achievement that marked a turning point in the history of the sport in Egypt. Nabil also boasts an impressive Olympic record, having participated in three consecutive Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, and Sydney 2000, in addition to winning numerous continental and Arab titles with Al Ahly Club and the national team.

Management and marketing expertise

Gawhar Nabil's career wasn't limited to the playing field; it extended to administrative and investment work. After retiring from playing, he headed the handball department at Al Ahly Club, then was elected to the board of directors of the Egyptian Handball Federation (2008-2011) and to the competitions committee of the Arab Handball Federation. In 2017, he was elected to the Al Ahly Club board of directors, but his term was marked by disagreements with club president Mahmoud El Khatib, leading him to choose not to run for another term in 2021. In addition to his sporting experience, Nabil served as chairman of a major private company specializing in sports advertising and marketing, giving him an economic perspective in managing the ministry's portfolio, which requires boosting sports investment in the coming period.

The management of Damac Club, headed by Engineer Khaled bin Mashaat, has settled the issue of the technical leadership of the first football team, by reaching a final agreement with the veteran Brazilian coach Fabio Carille, to take over the technical affairs for the remainder of the current season’s competitions, succeeding the Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista.

According to sources from “Al-Midan Al-Riyadi”, the negotiations between the club officials and the Brazilian coach were quickly successful, due to the administration’s urgent desire to address the team’s precarious situation in the Saudi Professional League standings, where the team is in the danger zone that threatens it with relegation, which necessitated urgent technical intervention by a figure with extensive experience in Saudi stadiums.

Carille's experience in Saudi stadiums

The selection of Fabio Carille is no coincidence, but rather based on his impressive coaching record and extensive experience in the Saudi League, having previously managed Al-Wahda and, most notably, Al-Ittihad. Carille is known for his disciplined tactical approach and his ability to organize the defense, qualities Damac desperately needs at the moment to stop the bleeding of points and restore balance on the pitch.

The fans of “Faris Al Janoub” are counting on Carille’s skill in dealing with crucial and pressured matches, especially since the Brazilian coach has a strong personality and the ability to deal psychologically with the players, which are crucial factors in the battles to survive and avoid relegation, as he has previously succeeded in building solid teams that are difficult to penetrate, and led Al Ittihad to reach the final of the Arab Championship and achieve advanced positions in the league.

Evangelista's dismissal and the challenges of the next phase

Damac FC's management decided to part ways with Portuguese coach Armando Evangelista and informed him of his departure this morning, following a string of poor results that left the team in a precarious position. The management felt that a change was absolutely necessary to revitalize the team before it was too late, especially with the competition intensifying in the final rounds of the season.

The new coach faces an immediate and difficult challenge as the team prepares to face Al-Taawoun in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. The highly anticipated match will be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah, where Damac hopes to return with a positive result that will mark a new beginning and help them avoid relegation.

Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, a key player for Al-Hilal's first football team, has dropped a bombshell within the Riyadh-based club by making a shocking decision in the past few hours regarding his immediate future with the team. This comes at a time when the club's management is working to restructure the squad during the current winter transfer window to ensure both technical and administrative stability for the remainder of the season.

According to Brazilian press reports, specifically those from Band Sports, Marcos Leonardo has categorically rejected the idea of ​​transferring to Brazilian club Flamengo, closing the door on one of the most prominent options for his departure. The reports indicate that the player is willing to limit his role with Al-Hilal to training only, without participating in matches, expressing his deep dissatisfaction with what he described as the unsatisfactory treatment he has received recently. This situation presents the club's management with a real dilemma regarding their foreign player roster.

This tension in the relationship between the player and the club comes within a broader context related to Al-Hilal's crowded roster of international stars, making competition for a starting position in coach Jorge Jesus's lineup extremely difficult. Saudi clubs, particularly the big ones like Al-Hilal, face the ongoing challenge of balancing the regulations regarding the number of foreign players allowed with the club's desire to attract new talent or offload players who have fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. This is the scenario Leonardo is currently experiencing, given the presence of several high-profile attacking players in the squad.

Al-Hilal's management is racing against time to market the player's contract during the current winter transfer window, as keeping a player of Leonardo's market value without playing time represents a financial and technical burden. The management aims to find an alternative offer that satisfies the player's ambitions while safeguarding the club's financial interests, especially since Al-Hilal always strives to maintain dressing room stability and shield the team from any distractions that could negatively impact its performance in domestic and continental competitions.

On the field, the coaching staff, led by Jesus, is trying to shield the team from these administrative crises, as Al-Hilal continues its intensive preparations to face Al-Ettifaq in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League. This match is particularly important as it will be held at the Kingdom Arena, the new home ground of the club, where the team aims to continue its winning streak and strengthen its lead in the league, overcoming any obstacles that might arise from the transfer market.