Ahmed El-Masry, one of the founders of the Tottenham Hotspur Fans Association in Egypt, revealed behind-the-scenes details regarding the signing of Egyptian star Omar Marmoush, who recently joined Spurs from Manchester City during the ongoing summer transfer window.
Tottenham had announced Marmoush's arrival through a video featuring the club's fans association in Egypt.
From Cairo to North London. Omar Marmoush, welcome to the Spurs family 🤍 pic.twitter.com/VChBAszuan@SpursOfficial
Ahmed El-Masry, one of the founders of the Tottenham fans association in Egypt, stated in exclusive comments to Yalla Kora: "We were close to signing Omar Marmoush before his move to Manchester City, and Mido had recommended him to the club several years ago as well."
He added: "A week ago, the club contacted us through their officials responsible for creating content for the Middle East, requesting that we film a video for the association in Egypt, without wishing to explain the details."
He continued: "The club sent a delegation from England to film the video, and we confirmed that the filming was related to Marmoush's transfer. We usually gather at a location named similarly to the club's old stadium (White Hart Lane)."
He went on: "The deal was postponed, and we did not receive approval for filming; part of the delegation returned, while one person remained with us to film coverage of the Charlton match in the League Cup. Then things proceeded smoothly, and we prepared ourselves to film a video related to the transfer on the sidelines of the match."
He further stated: "If Marmoush scores 10 or 15 goals in his first season with Tottenham, it will be a great achievement. We are optimistic about his ability to shine with the team. The fans in London hold special memories of Egyptians, such as Mido, who scored from his very first match, as well as Hossam Ghaly."
Addressing the founding of the association and the reason behind supporting Tottenham, he said: "We began steps to establish the association 10 years ago, and within the first five months, we succeeded in reaching 300 members."
He continued: "In 2017, we received official accreditation from the club. We organize gatherings and events and operate as one family. The club communicates with us annually, and we are mentioned alongside official supporters' groups inside the stadium. What happened represents the culmination of our efforts, as this is the first time a transfer in the English Premier League has been presented through a fans' association outside England, specifically within the Arab and African regions."
He clarified: "We have fans across several governorates throughout the country, and we have organized gatherings to watch matches in Cairo, Alexandria, Mansoura, and Tanta. Sometimes, we host some of our fans from Arab countries during their visits to Egypt."
He concluded: "Our official number in Egypt has reached 3,000 people. The club boasts a rich history as the first English team to win a European title. I started supporting the club after watching Mido play for them, while others began supporting the club years ago during the eras of Harry Kane and Mauricio Pochettino, and also during José Mourinho's tenure."
