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 NEWS
FROM EGYPT
Feb 2008, Framboise reports ...
When I went to Cairo to cover the 2006 World Championship, I didn't
see only the Pyramids, or the stunning competition, I also was
fortunate enough to
meet a
few new friends, to visit a few clubs, like the immense Shams
and the superb
Heliopolis
Club.
 On
my last day there, I was taken for a little visit of one of the most
prestigious Egyptian schools, the Elborolossy Squash Academy,
well, its 10 courts Cairo Wadi Degla branch, situated in the
stunning Wadi Degla Sporting Club.
They have another branch in Alexandria, home of Raneem El Weleily,
junior World Champion, at Krair Gardens Resort on the Alexandria
North Coast highway, and I just received a little note from Omar
Elborolossy, the founder and director, who informed me that in
April 2008, they'll be opening their second Cairo branch, with seven
courts and the first doubles court in Egypt!
So I thought it was a good opportunity to present to you that great
adventure that Omar has been setting up for a few years now ... |
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 The
name Elborolossy may sounds familiar but maybe you can't put your
finger on it, can you? Well, Omar Elborolossy was on the circuit up
to 4 years ago, then a knee injury took him away from the courts. He
used his time well, though.
Managing brother in law Amr Shabana, friend Mohamed Abbas
and Egyptian marvel Raneem El Weleily, opening his academies,
and two years ago, he decided to tempt his fate on the circuit again
while keeping up all his activities, that include husband to
Egyptian squash star and sister of, Salma Shabana and father
of Amina and Marawan Elbolorossy.
I couldn't help being impressed by the organisation, the structure
on which the academy is based. They have five training levels, each
level has its own trainers and training program/training dose which
is suitable for the age group and standard of players in this level;
Level 1 is from 4-6 years, Level 2 from 6-8, level 3 from 8-10,
level 4 from 10-12 and level 5 from 13-16. Then we have the Academy
Team as level 6. Every 3 month they re-evaluate all the kids and
change the levels accordingly.
At the moment, they count 230 junior members and a total membership
number to be more than 500 members, expecting to rise to 1,000 with
the opening of the new branch in April.
Also, they keep on
organising juniors local events (the last one saw more than 300
participants!).
Meet the man behind the structure, I give you, M. Omar Elborolossy. |
 How
would you define your academy?
Well, it is not the typical Egyptian program, most of the people
here depend on the quantity of time and hard work, we depend on the
quality of the training and discipline.
What do you want to achieve with it?
I can't put it in one sentence, I have many goals: To give the
opportunity to as many children as possible to play squash and to
teach them the true meaning of sportsmanship and fair play. To be
the best squash academy in the world.
Now, you had to stop your career for a while on injury, so how
is the knee?
It is ok, it hurts a little after few hard training days but I think
it can work for one tournament per month, provided that I don't play
Shabana every tournament!
What pushes a successful businessman/family man to go back on
the road?
 The challenge! When I stopped due to injury, I was playing the best
squash I ever played and I was feeling very close to reaching the
top, so I still have the feeling that there is an unfinished
business between me and the game of squash. I don't know how to
explain it but I feel that I have some squash inside of me that
didn't come out yet or may be it came out very few times but I
needed to get it out more often.
How do you handle the age factor:
I don't feel old, I'm 32 but I don't consider this old in squash.
Most of the top players are my age (like Thierry and Palmer).
I saw you with Salma, and saw how amazingly close you are you
and your children …
I can't really describe her in few words, You can say she's my whole
world; She is my wife, my best friend and my business partner. I'm
really very dependant on her, I take her opinion in nearly
everything.
When you finally rest in peace, what would you like people to
say about you:
He was a nice and respectable/decent man. |
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