Growing Spotlight on a Rising Star
Hamza Abdul Karim, the young forward for Al Ahly, spoke with pride about belonging to the Red Castle, stressing that the recent surge in attention is a natural result of his place in a club of Al Ahly's stature, famously dubbed the Club of the Century.
In an interview published on the club's official site and its social channels, he discussed his rise to the first team, his debut under the current coaching staff, and his ambitions for the future.
"It's natural for an Al Ahly player to attract interest from foreign clubs or the national team; this is a standard consequence of the club's profile," he said, adding that the attention gives him motivation and carries extra responsibility to deliver his best in the coming period.
“I don't let the pressures of playing with the first team distract me; my full focus is on training, improving, and letting my performances answer critics and expectations. It's normal for Al Ahly players to be the subject of media talk.”
Balancing Ambition with Club Loyalty
On indirect links with European clubs, he explained: "Playing for Al Ahly is a great honor, and I aim to earn the trust of the coaching staff. The outside interest came after I produced notable performances, whether with the youth national team at the World Cup, through my promotion to the first team, in the CAF Champions League, or in last season's domestic league."
He added: "My allegiance to Al Ahly has always been a dream; every family member is an Ahly supporter with a history in volleyball, yet they allowed me to pick the sport I love, and they fully support me. I have big ambitions to build a remarkable legacy at the club and to be a continuation of my family here."
Note: Responsibility and learning from the seniors
He emphasized: "Every player at Al Ahly knows the weight of the responsibilities. My promotion to the first team was an indescribable moment; stepping into the Mokhtar El Tet training complex's locker room felt like a dream realized and gave me the push to represent the club and delight its great fans."
He continued: "Training with players I used to watch on television now offers their support to help me grow; as I gain experience I will repay the club and please the fans."
Handling match pressure and future goals
Regarding matchday feelings, he said: "Being in games provides strong motivation. Before I play, I feel nerves due to the big crowds, but once I step on the pitch, the support intensifies—this is what happened in my first appearance."
He added: "It's a great honor to be named in the preliminary national squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, which gives me confidence and extra motivation and prepares me for future opportunities. I wish the national team success and a big achievement."
He closed with: "I have big ambitions for the future; I train hard to carry the responsibility of serving the club and hope to continue earning the trust of Al Ahly's fans and making them happy always."
Punchline 1: If tallies were jokes, Hamza's would have a standing ovation every time.
Punchline 2: Barca may be courting him, but the real transfer is his ambition—straight to the fans' hearts.
