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Amr Shabana
Malcolm Willstrop looks at one of the all-time greats ... |
It is one of life's sadnesses that
people pay tribute at funerals when tributes go unheard. When
sportsman retire, they are, if they have earned it, recognized. It
seems to me that it might be better to recognize people or players
while they are still alive or still playing.
 The
first time I became aware of Amr Shabana was at the World Junior
Championships in Cairo in 1996. Ahmed Faizy won and that was the
pinnacle of his career.
It was a pretty good crop in Cairo: Lee Beachill, Stewart Boswell,
Anthony Ricketts perhaps the pick, but Shabana didn't make any
particular impression. The perception of him then - and I do
remember this clearly - was a shotmaker, talented enough, but
without the discipline or the inclination to make a serious player.
I know Amr quite well, but not well enough to know what influences
turned him into one of the best players the world has known. From
being insubstantial he has become one of the most prolific winners
of all time in the most competitive era. Do not think he cannot be
compared to Jahangir, because everyone knows how different the two
eras in which they played are.
As he began to make an impression on the world scene there were some
- I was among them - who had doubts about his ability to see things
through. How ridiculous that now seems as his record in major events
is second to none ... three world titles and it could so easily have
been four in Manchester, and that wonderful run late in 2007. And
just when he seems down: not retaining his world title, losing to
Darwish in Qatar, up he pops again in his beloved Hong Kong, where
he can do no wrong.
As a player for whom consistency looked a distant dream, he was at
no.1 for 33 months.
So what are his strengths?
His game is so well structured and for such an attack minded player,
almost risk free. He is the epitome of relaxation, taking nothing
out of himself in movement or in striking the ball and he is a
winner. I saw him at Hong Kong airport after his Cathay Pacific win,
going about his business, understated, unpretentious, supremely
modest, the world's best squash player.
I'm not sure if I'm right or not, but I have always felt he is not
completely appreciated in Egypt. He has never seemed to have the
recognition that Ahmed Barada enjoyed, despite being in a different
league as a player. I suppose it is how he projects himself and he
is never going to take himself too seriously.
One omission from his achievements is the British Open: it certainly
isn't the most rewarding tournament financially, but its tradition
makes it desirable. I find it strange that he hasn't been successful
in England. I can't think of any reason why he hasn't performed ...
perhaps he knows.
I am sure, though, that his wife Najla has been a considerable
influence in his life, and they are expecting their second child in
the summer ... wish them well.
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