Striker Gamal becomes first Egyptian to sign for PSL club after Wits switch
Al Ahly player bags one-season loan
Egyptian striker Amr Gamal has made history by becoming the first footballer from the north African country to sign for a PSL team after his move to Bidvest Wits was confirmed yesterday.
The 26-year-old has joined the Clever Boys on a one-season loan from Egypt’s Al Ahly with an option for a permanent switch. He was spotted by Wits coach Gavin Hunt when the two sides met in the CAF Champions League early this year.
“I saw him playing against us, twice. I took a shot in the dark with my CEO [Jose Ferreira] and I said, ‘can we do something?’ And we got the ball rolling from there. He’s an old-fashioned number nine and I like those type of players.. In the attacking third, he’s brave. He can protect the ball and has a good shot. He can score goals from different angles and aerially, for a small guy he’s got good spring.”
Ferreira admitted that it wasn’t easy to convince Al Ahly to let their development product go. According to transfer market, he has scored 30 goals and had 10 assists in 101 matches for the north African giants since 2012.
“It took us a good two months of solid work every single day to try to get the player,” Ferreira explained.
Gamal said he’s confident he can repay Wits for the trouble.
“I had some offers from overseas, but I felt that Wits will give me the experience,” added Gamal, who was speaking through a translator.