Global Voices Online is one of the most interesting sites for the analysis of blogs from all over the world on any topic imaginable. Recent excitement over the Algeria/Egypt football shootout for a place at the World Cup has been making the news and blogs throughout North Africa and Global Voices has picked up on it.
Egypt won the first match in Cairo after people in the streets attacked the bus of the arriving Algerian team causing some minor injuries. The second game saw a lot of street action in Khartoum after the Algerians won with Egyptians reportedly being targeted, as well as a couple of days of demonstrations with some violence outside the Algerian embassy in Zamalek. As one who was a student at the University of California at Berkeley in the "violent" days of the late 60's when there were "riots" everyday from noon to one in Sproul Plaza, I'm a bit skeptical about news reports of riots. I had a noon class and missed the entire season, much to my siblings' disappointment. I never saw a single "riot". Rats! A friend of mine in Zamalek, however, was able to tell me that things were a bit tense there for a while.
In all the ruckus after the match in Khartoum, Alaa Mubarak, the second son of the President of Egypt who is usually a low profile businessman, called in to some talk shows to express his displeasure at the Algerians who had, on their own turf, taken out their frustrations on Egyptian workers and companies with their own riots. Many Egyptians, apparently, are quite taken with this action and are looking at Alaa with a new light. Marwa Rakha wrote a longish article examining the responses to Alaa Mubarak's outburst as well as looking at the political possibilities presented. After all, in this part of the world (as in most of the world) EVERYTHING is political of course.
Okay, boys and girls. If you can't play nicely, we will have to take the ball and go home.
copyright 2009 Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
8 comments:
I was in Zamalek last night and the street immediately in front of the Algerian embassy at the top of Shira Ishmael Mohammed was closed off. I kept thinking, "All this for a freaking soccer game?!" But then, even in N.America several cities have had riots after big sports matches. *shrug*
Sure, politicians love to play this stuff up because it detracts attention from their abysmal failure to improve the nation's education, health care, hygiene, infrastructure, employment, environment, etc.
Some of my cousins were raving about this on Facebook, saying that Algeria should be banned from football, and asking people to sign a petition. I reminded them that we are all Muslims and Arabs and that we have much more pressing issues to deal with. Have they signed a petition to relieve the suffering in Gaza?
People are being played and they don't know it.
I always like to read your perspective on things, and LOVE you closing statement here!
Shame on Egypt
Do you treat Israeli Tourists like your treat Algerians?
Poor
Hmm. Spelling is atrocious and not sure of the relevance? Do they play football?
very interesting blog! congratulations and greetings from Australia
WE need to play nicely, or else were screwed
Liked your view..actually they all fail to keep the main aim of playing football..and turned it to something else
Happy to find your blog
Bothayna
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