Ahmed Shoukri
It has been a tough first half of the season for the biggest club in Egypt - Al Ahly. A string of injuries has hit the club with household names such as Mohamed Abu Treika and Mohamed Barakat missing many games. But the mighty reds have also earned from this situation: Coach Hossam Al Badri had no choice but to field several promising youngsters.
One of them has gone on to become one of the biggest talents in the country and a true star in the making. Meet Ahmed Shoukri , who by the age of 20 is already being compared to the talismanic Abu Treika and for good reason.
Shoukri rose to national prominence when he took part in Egypt's Under-20 World Cup campaign on home soil in September and October. He scored two magnificent goals in the 4-2 group stage win over Italy and put in some fine displays in the tournament despite Egypt's elimination from the round of 16.
Though making only two appearances in the competition the attacking midfielder-cum-winger was hailed by the Egyptian press as he looked especially bright and lively when supporting the attack on a consistent basis, offering his creative arsenal with plenty of threatening runs and shots with both feet.
The talented midfielder was given his chance with Ahly when the team’s stars picked up their injuries. Since then he has recorded seven appearances and helped Ahly to extend their lead at the top of the league table to six points before the break.
Shoukri quickly rose to hero status with the club's fans as his overall ability was highly impressive, especially in Egypt's most important match of the season, the Cairo derby against archrivals Zamalek. Left-footed Shoukri won the nickname "the Egyptian Raul" for his impressive speed, composure and technique with his left foot. He has even appeared on a TV commercial.
Shoukri's immense potential derives from a couple of parameters. First, he is a modern, versatile midfielder. Shoukri prefers to play as a creative playmaker behind the strikers, but is equally adept at playing as a left or right winger and even as a central midfielder. His physical abilities are also rare for most Egyptian players – he is extremely fast and also fairly strong for his age and cannot be knocked off the ball easily. He should still improve a lot physically but has the tools to do so.
But most important is his technique on the ball. Shoukri has very strong shooting with both feet, and he is very dangerous from free kicks. He also boasts excellent ball control, a vast array of passes, and marvellous intelligent runs into open spaces which mean he is a constant threat to the opposition defence.
Despite all that, Shoukri still has a long way to go as a player. He shows no enthusiasm when being asked to help out in defensive situations and should work a lot on his decision-making process, as he tends to over-dribble. When he does play one-touch, he does it perfectly, so it seems he has to improve mostly on his game intelligence level rather than the technical level.
This means that Egyptian fans should wait eagerly for Shoukri to develop. His mentality, such a major barrier for many Egyptian players, seems good for his age. He works hard in training and is brave, as he is not afraid to shoot from distance. He touches the ball so many times during the game that he seems like a player far more mature than his real age.
"I dream of becoming like Abu Treika one day," Shoukri recently declared in an interview. "Such an aim motivates me to work hard and be committed in order to achieve it. Abu Treika always supports and encourages me and my teammates. I was very happy when he phoned me after Ahly's draw with Zamalek to congratulate me for my performance."
The next question is of course – are we watching the new Abu Treika unfolding? Only time will tell us the answer to this question. But one thing is for sure: this young maestro has all the tools to reach Abu Treika's level.