Kuwaiti official praises Egypt great Abou-Treika for rejecting money to play in friendly

Published on: 20 December 2015
Kuwaiti official praises Egypt great Abou-Treika for rejecting money to play in friendly
Mohammed Aboutrika

Former Egypt and Ahly star Mohamed Abou-Treika is being widely acclaimed for refusing to be paid for his participation with former world stars in a friendly game in Kuwait. 

The 36-year-old took part in the Football Champions Tour team against a Kuwaiti all-star team Friday in the opening ceremony of Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

He played alongside world top superstar players such as David Beckham, Luis Figo, Deco, David James, Alessandro Nesta, Michel Salgado and Andriy Shevchenko.

"All the players have been paid except Abou-Treika, who refused to be paid in support of Kuwait," ceremony organising committee member Khaled Al-Rodan told a television programme late Saturday.

FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) both suspended Kuwait because of alleged government interference in the Gulf state's sports scene.

Kuwait on Friday staged the game despite the suspension. A number of currently active players like former England midfielder Steven Gerrard and Italy's Andrea Pirlo dropped plans to play in the game after being warned by FIFA.

The world body had also written to the Kuwait Football Association warning that the match needed FIFA approval.

The ceremony organising committee reportedly offered the players 50,000 Euros each for their participation in the game, but Abou-Treika, whose assets are frozen in Egypt over alleged ties to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, refused to receive the money.

"When I asked the Egyptian star to take part in the game he said that, 'I know Kuwait was unjustly suspended and I need to support Kuwait'," Al-Rodan added.

"He also said he was honoured to play in the match."

Abou-Treika hung up his boots in late 2013 after leading Egypt’s most successful club Ahly to a host of domestic and continental trophies, earning cult status among the club's faithful. He was also instrumental in helping Egypt win two African Cup of Nations titles in 2006 and 2008.

"I informed the Kuwaiti political authority about Abou-Treika's situation and they admired it as Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah invited the Egyptian star to meet him and to take photo with him and to thank him for his support," Al-Rodan said.

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah led the country's leadership and top officials to the colourful ceremony that included a musical concert by top Gulf singers and spectacular fireworks and laser displays that lit the skies over the oval-shaped stadium.

Source: Ahram Online

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