Farewell on the Field: Egyptian Stars Honour Mohamed Sabry

Farewell on the Field

At the Al-Hamidiya Al-Shazliya Mosque in Cairo on Sunday evening, a crowd of Egyptian football stars, club officials, and public figures gathered to offer condolences to Mohamed Sabry, the former Zamalek and Egypt national team midfielder who died early Friday after a health issue while driving his car.

The family of the departed and the Zamalek board welcomed mourners as they prepared to say goodbye to a player whose devotion to the club left a lasting imprint on fans.

Zamalek had announced a three-day period of mourning, with current board members including Hussein Labib at the fore and Ahmed Suleiman among the attendees, alongside former president Mamdouh Abbas.

A procession of the golden generation of Egyptian football joined the farewell, with attendees such as Khaled El-Ghandour, Moataz Gamal, Tariq El-Sayed, Osama Nabih, Medhat Abdulhadi, and Ayman Abdel Aziz among others.

There was a visible display of unity across Egyptian clubs, as many former and current Al Ahly players also attended to pay their respects, including Mokhtar Mokhtar, Ahmed Hassan, Abdel Monem Shata, and Sid Abdel Hafiz, with members from Al Ahly's board present.

Official attendance included high-level government representation; Lieutenant General Kamel Al-Wazir, the deputy prime minister for industrial development and the minister of industry and transport, travelled to Cairo to offer condolences, underscoring Sabry’s standing in both popular and official circles.

The Zamalek board later announced financial support for Sabry’s family and a monthly pension in recognition of his service to the club.

The journey of a Zamalek icon

Mohamed Sabry, born in 1974, rose as a central figure of Zamalek’s golden era in the late 1990s and into the early millennium. He joined the first team in 1993, playing as a midfield attacker and earning a reputation for his technical flair and dribbling ability that thrilled fans.

During his time with Zamalek, Sabry collected 15 titles, including two Egyptian Premier League titles, two Egypt Cups, and three Egyptian Super Cups, along with continental honors in Africa. He played a key role in three CAF Champions League triumphs, and added a CAF Cup, CAF Super Cups, and Afro-Asian Cup to his cabinet as the club expanded its regional reach.

Sabry stood out for a generation that included teammates like Ahmed Al-Kass, Ayman Mansour, Khaled El-Ghandour, Ismail Youssef, Hazem Imam, and Nader El-Sayed, a constellation fans still celebrate as part of Zamalek’s golden era.

After a long spell with the club, he had a brief professional stint with Kazma in Kuwait before returning to Egypt to play for Al Ittihad (Alexandria). He later retired from professional play and moved into coaching and talent scouting, with credit for discovering Mustafa Fathi among others.

In recent years, Sabry served as a broadcaster and sports analyst on the Zamalek channel, earning respect for balancing club loyalty with fair commentary and respect for rivals.

Loyalty to the White Castle defined his career—a sentiment he described as central to his choices, including turning down offers from other Egyptian clubs to stay true to Zamalek throughout his journey.

He acknowledged some mistakes but remained a symbol of dedication to the club, whether as a player, coach, or analyst, and he carried himself with dignity, defending the club without deriding opponents.

Details of the death

Sabry died in the early hours of Friday after his car collided with a wall under construction in the Fifth Settlement. The news sent shockwaves through the Egyptian sports world, leaving behind a sense of loss for a player who was deeply loved by Zamalek supporters.

Reactions across the sports world

Within hours, tributes poured in from across the football community. Nira Al-Ahmar, a Zamalek board member, spoke of the sorrow on her social media, noting they had shared a TV appearance shortly before. Hazem Imam offered prayers for mercy and forgiveness for the late captain, while Mohamed Shikabala highlighted Sabry’s lasting loyalty and impact on the club and its fans. Jamal Hamza posted a message of condolence and asked for patience for Sabry’s family.

Several images captured the outpouring of grief, showing Sabry’s friends and fans paying tribute in the stadium and at the funeral procession, a reminder that football can unite a nation in times of mourning.

Beyond the outpouring of love, officials continued to honor Sabry’s memory, and his career remains a benchmark for loyalty and excellence in Egyptian football.

In a world of fleeting fame, Sabry left a lasting imprint on the hearts of fans, exemplifying what it means to play with passion and serve the club you love.

Punchlines, because even grief can use a light touch: If loyalty were a jersey, Sabry would still be wearing it after the whistle. And if memory could score goals, his would be a hat trick of cheers every time a fan thinks of him.