Syrian stars look to shine at Egyptian soccer academy
An academy that helps gifted Syrian kids play in big soccer clubs sees talent and hope in Egypt.
CAIRO — Anas Hosary’s soccer academy is heading into its fourth year of using sports to help Syrians in Egypt integrate into their home away from home. Some 180 young boys and teenagers now train at the Syrian Stars Academy, founded in 2014 by Hosary, a former player with the Syrian national soccer team. Half of the players are Syrian.
The Egyptian Football Association’s August 2017 decision to allow every Egyptian Premier League club to recruit two players of Syrian or Palestinian nationality has been encouraging for the academy and its students.
“Initially, the academy targeted Syrian children,” Hosary told Al-Monitor. “As of 2016, we started accepting Egyptian and non-Syrian Arab nationals. Our goal is to train professional soccer players who would ultimately join professional Egyptian and European clubs.”
Hosary said, “I would like to reassure Syrian children who had to leave their country that as long as they are talented, it is not the end but the beginning.” Hosary arrived in Egypt five years ago, after playing soccer in Cyprus.
