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Magdi Saad, 1954 - 2011
LEST WE
FORGET |
27-Mar-2011:
 On
Thursday, we heard the news that Magdi Saad who was
working in Saudi Arabia had passed away.
I could hardly
believe it, because he has been in good health and for the
past few years had always stressed that at his age, he
should always be cautious and never push hard while playing
a game of squash.
As we all know, caution and fate can be very different
things.
I also know that he will be missed. Such a gentle person.
Never have I ever seen him angry or hold within himself
hatred for someone.
He was a bundle of talent, an extremely clever player on
court. He was so talented, to the point of being one of the
world’s top pro’s without having played squash at all as a
junior!!
 I
would have loved to put down his numerous squash
achievements, but they are so many, to the point that I have
honestly lost track.
From results as a professional player, member of the
Egyptian Men’s Team, British Open veterans champion, a coach
who has contributed to the success of so many Egyptian
junior and senior players. Magdi was truly international in
scope, loved and admired by so many.
Magdi, we miss you and always will, and pray that you rest
in peace. Our hearts are with your family.
From all your friends in Egypt.
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I'll
miss you.
CAPTAIN Magdi
R.I.P
I am one of those parents who always respected you, RIP C.
Magdy, you will never be forgotten by players & parents as
you were RARE in this community.
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I was so shocked when I found
out.. I had so many memories with him... He coached me for a
period.. and I have learnt so many good things from him..
I still now remember the days when he used to go with me on
court and beat me 9/0... He was with me in most of the
British Juniors I went too...
He was also with me in Switzerland for the world juniors...
I travelled so much with him..
All these memories I had with him will never be forgotten..
He was so nice.. I really loved him...I will really miss
him...
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I was shocked when I read the
news.
Captain Magdy was always so healthy and fit. He was one of
the most talented people ever to play squash in Egypt. I was
keen on watching him play the Over 35 and 45 events in
Egypt, you always learn something new when you watch him
play. He was a brilliant tactician and a very humble human
being.
Egyptian squash will never forget Captain Magdy Saad..
(former referee for the Egyptian Squash Association) |
It was
with great sadness that I read today of Madgi's passing
away.
I remember him fondly from the time I entered the
professional tour, as he welcomed me with his quick wit and
warm conversation. His skills as a top class Egyptian player
are clearly evident amongst the current crop of world class
Egyptian juniors.
As I moved to the coaching world, Madgi was already well
entrenched in the coaching setup in Egypt, being one of the
few players who mastered both squash careers. He continued
to engage with all he encountered in the same friendly and
knowledgably manner.
My sympathies go out to his family and friends, I am sure I
will only be one of many who are deeply saddened by today's
news.
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I am
shocked that Magdi has passed! I do know Magdi very well. He
is about 57 only!
I used to see Magdi almost on a weekly basis while I lived
in Qatar. That time Magdi was a pro there.
Sad to know!
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It came as a shock to hear this
news at Canary Wharf.
I have known Magdi for what must be a long time. I first met
him at a British Junior Open and then I would bump into him
all over the World.
He was a soft spoken and a very kind man who always had time
for me.
I only ever saw him play squash once and that was at the
Melbourne Festival all those years ago.
He was a beautiful player on court and I could see why he
was such a wonderful coach.
So sad and my thoughts are with his family.
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Magdi was a friendly guy on the
tour and a brilliant squash player. He reached the top ten
in the eighties and definitely had the talent to go higher.
He was also a high standard tennis player and once entered a
Middle Eastern national Open "for fun" an ended up winning
it! .
He was very knowledgable about the game of squash and I
understand that he was a fine coach. In recent years I have
seen him at junior tournaments with various Egyptian squads
obviously held in high esteem by his charges. He
instinctively understood life and I will particularly
remember his modesty and his humour.
In Zurich at The World Juniors in 2008 we played tennis and
I wasn't surprised when he played a volley drop with so much
backspin that it returned to his side of the net ! My son
Charlie and I were in stitches when he changed ends with his
racket balanced on his nose, a trick that he performed
occasionally during professional matches, to lighten the
mood.
Tonight I am very sad but I feel privileged to have known
him. He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he
brightened.
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I loved
Magdy to bits. ... as a junior coming up, my father always
made sure that he took me to his matches whenever he was
playing a tournament, always told me to watch closely how he
plays the game.
The man is an awesome squash talent up there with the very
best. A jewel of a person off court. And a grand master of
the game
True story: A professional squash and tennis event were
running in the same time in Maadi club in Egypt, Magdy won
the title in both events and it was a professional event in
both sports! He beat everybody in 2 sports, squash and
tennis!!!! Now you tell me who else ever did that
anywhere...
Magdy you will live forever ... and never be forgotten. Mad
respect and love.
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You will
always be in our hearts as the best Coach, friend, and
humble human being who gave all his best to squash and to
people around him.
God Bless your soul Coach Magdi and you will always be
remembered with all the best memories and your kind heart.
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I would like to add my sadness
on reading of Magdi's passing.
I recall his matches in the British Open,one in particular
at Bromley with Ashley Naylor and others with Christy
Willstrop and whenever I met him afterwards he was always
welcoming,full of fun and mischief.
He played with the same obvious enjoyment and he is,like
Ahmed Safwat and Gamal Awad,his countrymen,one of those
people you are glad you knew and you will never forget.
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It is with great sadness to
hear the news of Magdy’s passing. While a top professional
in the eighties, Magdy spent a lot of time at the Heliopolis
Sporting Club where he made friends with everybody: the
young and the old, the top players and the beginners.
I was one of those privileged to know Magdy and to watch him
play in close range. His humility, kindness and immaculate
talent will be cherished by all who knew him.
My condolences to Magdy’s family and to the entire squash
community in Egypt and worldwide.
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I learned
a lot from your brilliant talent on court and from your
great, kind and polite respectful Presonality on and off
Court.
We all as Egyptain squash players LOVED YOU and you will
never be forgotten ...
Rest in Peace coach.......
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It was
very painful, hearing about your death.
I remember that when I first started playing squash, I was 7
years then, you were my coach .You were very humble, indeed
a gentleman.
I hope that we all try at least to make the same effort you
did for squash in Egypt. We all consider you our father.
Last but not least, I am sure that you are more happy now.
May God bless your soul.
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Myself & my family were very
saddened yesterday to hear of Magdi's passing.
We first met Magdi in my junior days when he came to the
British Juniors coaching such fine Egyptian players as Wael
el Hindi, Mohammed Abbas & Amr Shabana, and our paths
crossed many times since.
Whenever he was coaching the Egyptian team he always
conducted himself with great humour, dignity and humbleness
both in victory and defeat, and it's no surprise that some
of his protogees are amongst the finest gentlemen on the
tour today.
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Cap. Magdy you will always on
our minds that full of good advices and you will always on
our harts that full of good memories.
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I was
really shocked when I knew, he was a really kind person.
I don't have a lot of memories with him but I remember when
he used to sing for me in the British open Shuttle while
going to my matches.
Coach Magdi a father & Coach you will be really missed RIP
:( ........
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I’m in total
denial of Captain Magdy Saad’s death.
Although I asked many people wishing they would refute it,
they all confirmed it. However, I still don’t want to
believe it. That is because he was a phenomenal person
inside out. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the position or
spotlight he deserved to take in this world because of his
modesty, kindness and seriousness.
Therefore, I pray he takes it in heaven which is way more
crucial for him. There is a popular quote which says, “ When
someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a
treasure. “
Captain Magdy, since you were such a lovable person, I want
to tell you that if love could have saved you, you would
have guaranteed to live forever.
May your soul rest in peace.
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Magdi my older Brother my coach
and my friend I'm really shocked when i heard that...
You teached me a lot in my life you advised me in different
situations, we achieved together a lot of wins we, travelled
together all over the world .
This will be very Hard on me to keep going without you
Magd,i but I'm sure you will be in the place you Deserve.
I'll keep pray for your Soul Magdy and
May god Bless your Soul.
Your Brother : 
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I have known Magdi for many
years - in fact I think he was at every major event I have
ever played or coached at.
The first to shake your hand after a tough defeat or
victory- whether he was directly involved or not. Such a
fine individual with such dignity, pride and humbleness: I
didn't even know he was such a great tennis player until
reading some of the other messages here!
Undoubtedly loved and respected by the whole community,
Magdi will be sorely missed but I sense he will still
somehow be at our future major events in spirit. I will
certainly be looking out for him.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
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What a
very sad day for squash. He was a true gentleman who always
had a smile on his face.
It was a true joy to see him around the courts every time I
travelled to Egypt. It was great to hear his stories and see
him hit around with the juniors.
Magdi has shown us all how to play this game both on and off
the court with great passion.
May we all step on the court today with a smile on our faces
and not a worry in the world...The way Magdi would have
wanted you to play!
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My friend, and brother Magdi,
I know I'm writing this a little late, but I was in shock
and denial when I first heard, and until now, I still cant
wrap my mind around the fact that you are no longer with us.
I'm not upset that all these people are writing all these
wonderful things about you, but what I wish was that you
were still with us to understand how much people loved you
and will miss you.
In the end, I wish one day we'll meet again. You will
forever be in the Squash Families hearts.
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