Ibrahim El-Masry: Al Ahly stay was never driven by despair

Ibrahim El-Masry says he never considered giving up on Al Ahly during the club’s quieter period and wants to build a lasting legacy after remaining with the handball team since 2013.

The Al Ahly player explained that he turned down the chance to move abroad because he believed in the club’s rebuilding project, despite a time when major honours were less frequent.

“I did not feel despair during the period when we were not winning titles,” El-Masry told MBC Masr 2. “At that time, we were winning one or two trophies during the season, and that was satisfactory for me because the club was building a new generation for the handball team.”

El-Masry said he had received offers to pursue a professional career outside Egypt, but chose to stay after Al Ahly made clear that he remained an important part of its plans.

“I received professional offers and wanted to experience playing abroad, but Al Ahly asked me to continue,” he said. “I felt appreciated by the board of directors and the director of sporting activity.”

The Egypt international also highlighted the team’s progress over the past four years, during which Al Ahly have established themselves as a dominant force in domestic and continental handball.

“For the past four years, we have been in complete control of handball titles locally and across Africa,” he added. “We have narrowed the gap between us and the European teams, beaten Barcelona and Fuchse Berlin, and won two bronze medals at the World Club Handball Championship.”

El-Masry said his time at Al Ahly had left him highly satisfied, but that he was still focused on adding to his medal collection.

“I am very happy with the period I have spent at Al Ahly,” he said. “I want to increase my number of titles so that my name is not forgotten and so that I can leave a legacy at the club.”

The player recently helped Al Ahly claim bronze at the World Club Handball Championship after defeating Zamalek. He then played his part in the club’s triumph in the African Clubs Championship, where Al Ahly again overcame Zamalek in the tournament held in Angola.