Hani Abu Rida revealed the president of the Egyptian Football Association, the reasons for appointing Shawqi Gharib to the position of technical director of the union, pointing out that the role of the technical director of the Football Association is coordination between the national teams.
Abu Rida said in televised statements via Al-Nahar channel: "Shawqi Gharib was a great international player, and possesses great competence and experience, in addition to his wonderful successes with the youth national team".
He added: "He achieved the bronze medal at the World Cup under 20 years old in the 2001 edition, as well as winning the African Cup of Nations under 23 years old, and led the team to qualify for the Olympics in addition to his work for years with Hassan Shehata during the golden generation of the Egyptian national team".
He explained: "The role of the technical director of the Football Association is to coordinate between the national teams, re-evaluate all players, prepare the teams and competitions in the required manner, and be directly responsible for the administrative aspects and technical expertise related to this file, in addition to planning for the age groups and the future of the national teams".
He continued: "Egypt's national team success in the World Cup under the leadership of Hossam Hassan contributed to changing the thinking of Football Association officials regarding the possibility of relying on an Egyptian technical director within the association and strengthened confidence in Egyptian competencies, and prompted the association to seek the assistance of Shawqi Gharib".
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He went on: "Helmy Toulan does not bear responsibility for the early exit from the Arab Cup, but the main reason was the lack of time and the inability to prepare the players in an ideal manner before the tournament".
The president of the Football Association spoke about the selection of Essam Abdel Fattah to head the referees committee, confirming that the decision was based on his great experience inside and outside Egypt.
He continued: "Oscar Ruiz's experience contributed to bringing in a number of new elements within the Egyptian refereeing system, in addition to the participation of an Egyptian refereeing crew for the first time in the World Cup".
He added: "The selection of Essam Abdel Fattah is due to his experience and great competence, and the matter cannot be portrayed as a stance against Al-Ahly Club, and we have a close relationship with Al-Ahly, and it is natural for differences in viewpoints to occur, but that does not mean the existence of a dispute or targeting of any club".
He continued: "Essam Abdel Fattah has previously managed referees committees in the UAE and Syria, and possesses great experience and distinguished relations within the African and International Football Associations".
He concluded: "The Football Association has a clear plan to develop the refereeing system in the coming period, with the continuation of the policy of bringing in new elements and seeking the assistance of young referees, and what the Egyptian refereeing crew led by Amin Omar presented in the last World Cup".
