PROFILE Mido proves unlikely Ajax hero
Friday 22nd March 2002
After weeks of deliberation, Ajax coach Ronald Koeman appears to have found the man to fill the troublesome No 9 jersey in his title-chasing side.
And the player in question, Egypt international Ahmed 'Mido' Hossam, has every reason to tell his coach "I told you so".
Mido has long been imploring Koeman to give him a chance in the centre and the 20-year-old has popped up as Ajax's unlikely saviour as the Eredivisie season reaches its climax.
Koeman has struggled to find the perfect balance up front since taking over from Co Adriaanse in December.
Although Ajax lead the league in scoring with 58 goals from 27 games, first-choice strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nikos Machlas have been far from impressive this season.
But with difficult away trips to PSV Eindhoven and Vitesse in the next ten days, right on cue Koeman seems to have found the answer to his problems in the shape of converted left winger Mido, who had once before played the full 90 minutes under the new boss until last week.
Mido's rise to a position where Ajax's title chances could now rest heavily on his scoring potential is all the more remarkable given that just two weeks ago he incurred the coach's wrath for going on a day-trip to Cairo prior to a reserve team game he was supposed to be playing in.
During a subsequent conversation with Koeman, however, Mido made clear that he wasn't the only one who was dissatisfied, and he has since been given the chance to prove his case.
He came off the bench to replace Machlas during the 4-0 win against De Graafschap a fortnight ago and repaid Koeman's faith by scoring with his first touch and setting up another.
That earned a spot in the starting line-up against high-flying Heerenveen last Sunday and the 19-year-old once again delivered the goods, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win.
Koeman, however, is not getting ahead of himself. While admitting that he sees no reason to replace Mido ahead of the crunch clash at PSV, he has learned from the lessons given by Ibrahimovic and Machlas.
"We will take it one game at a time," he declared. "But I do believe that Mido showed against Heerenveen that he can play up front. He is dangerous in the area, shows good movement and is strong in the air."
Koeman also explained why he had delayed before giving Mido, a Ł3 million signing from Ghent last season, a chance up front.
"I have said before that when you arrive at a club in the midst of a campaign you need a few months to rate the real qualities of the players at your disposal. Well, Mido came as a left-winger, but I don't believe that he is one."
Mido echoed his coach's words. "Ajax saw me as left-winger, because I played on that position in my last four games at Ghent," he said.
"I accepted to play as a left-winger, because it was a dream to play at Ajax. I like the club very much and everybody in Egypt loves Ajax, that's why I agreed."
"However, it didn't work out on the left flank, so it was important to tell the coach that I wanted to play in my position and show that I can play up front."
With the Eredivisie season coming to one of the most exciting conclusions in years, Mido could not have chosen his moment any better.
"I believe that these two weeks, the last game against Heerenveen and the next match at PSV, are the most important weeks of the season," he said.
"We took the first step against Heerenveen and I hope that we can take the next step against PSV."
Sunday's game at PSV could certainly be crucial to the outcome of the campaign, as a win for Ajax would all but eliminate the Eindhoven side from the title chase.
The reigning champions are third, seven points behind Ajax but still have a game in hand on the leaders. In addition, PSV's Champions' League spot is under pressure from Heerenveen, who are just too two points further back.
Second-placed Feyenoord could be the big winners of the
weekend. They trail Ajax by five points, but have also played a game less.
Mido joined Ghent in the summer of 2000 at the age of 17 from Egyptian side Zamalek where he had started his career. He soon proved a shrewd signing, allaying great ball control and speed with a natural scorer's instinct.
He scored 11 times in 23 games, scooping the Jupiler League's African player of the Year and Discovery of the Year awards in the process, and also attracted attention back home.
He soon earned a regular spot in the national side and, after a string of impressive performances at the African Nations Cup, was being touted as the natural successor to record cap holder Hossan Hossam.
Back in Europe, the race to prise him from Ghent was intensifying, but Mido showed his loyalty to the Belgian club by extending his contract by two years, although it was evident that he would leave at the end of the season.
Selflessly, he wanted Ghent to command a transfer fee to repay the club for the help they had given him and his family during and after his move to Belgium.
Ghent had helped his parents move to Belgium, gave them a house to live in, and Mido's father a job at the club. By extending his contract in mid-season, Mido was giving the club an early leaving present.
He then infuriated Anderlecht by joining Ajax, who had spotted Mido during their 6-0 rout of Ghent in last year's Uefa Cup second round, after first agreeing terms with the Belgian champions.
But now that the dust has settled, he appears to have made the right choice and he will just be hoping that his excellent form, which made him such a crowd favourite at Ghent, continues against PSV.
In Belgium, the youngster was known as Ahmed Hossam; in Holland, Mido has finally landed.
