Qatar Classic PORTRAITS

Framboise meets Hisham Algosaibi in Doha

“OUT OF THE TOP DRAWER”…

It’s with those words that Robert Edwards described his long time friend Hisham Algosaibi to me. “He and his family have been close friends for many years,” he added… And now I’ve met the man, I’m not surprised. I’m not easily impressed you know. The last time I was that impressed by somebody was with Arif Mehmood Siddique, the DG of Sports in Islamabad. What an aura Hisham has… What a personality… How clever… How calm…
And now I’ve met the man, I’m not surprised. I’m not easily impressed you know. The last time I was that impressed by somebody was with Arif Mehmood Siddique, the DG of Sports in Islamabad. What an aura Hisham has… What a personality… How clever… How calm… First of all, he is very tall, and his physical strength is quite obvious. You meet him, and you feel small, very small. Then, he starts speaking to you, and straight out, he tells you that he has had an up and down relationship with press people. Ah. Good start… Better behave myself then… Then he tells you about that star who didn’t want to follow the rules, and that he didn’t buy it… For him, everybody is to follow the rules, whatever shape, colour, nationality, religion… Don’t expect favoured treatment because of who you are, or who you know… I like that… A no-nonsense man…
And then his voice softens… His voice softens when he speaks about his passion for the game… for his immense respect for the squash players who are exceptional athletes paid peanuts compared to the tennis players, how he wants to make them feel welcome, how he insists Doha reserves VIP treatment for them… His voice softens when he talks about Deborah, his wife, of English origin, but who lived for years in Ceylon, who he met through squash, and with whom he has three adorable children, Loulou, 8, Sarah, 7, Ibrahim, 4. Yes, adorable, I’ve seen the pictures…
He then talks about his involvement in Qatar Squash Federation since '92, how between his work as a civil engineer and his role as the Secretary General of QSF, he didn’t have any time left for his family and had to make a choice. How he knew that he could step down because Khalid Al Obaidly was perfect to take over. How important also it was that he would leave the way for other people to make their mark in QSF, that staying too long could have a nasty air of dictatorship, that it was important to infuse new blood into QSF…
We talk about everything, about the remarkable extension of the Squash Centre where the tournament is taking place: after transformation, the new facilities will comprise of 9 courts, one permanent brand new glass court, 4 exhibition courts, 4 practice courts, a players lounge exclusively for the athletes, a “sanctuary”, just for them, no press, no public, where they will have access to the internet, showers, rest room; a media room, a VIP room, etc… The Asian Games 2006 and the next Qatar Classic will be breathtaking…
We go on talking about his experience, about the first time he came to see the British Open in '92, about the tournaments he has organised, about life, religion, politics… “Sorry, sir, but we are closing”, says the headwaiter in the restaurant, a little embarrassed… No wonder… It’s late… We’ve both got work to do… I’m now walking up to my hotel room, my notebooks under my arm. I know I won’t need my notes to write this portrait. You do not write from notes after such a meeting... You just.... write.


Aladdin Again ... Robert Edwards recognises a familiar face in Doha
A quick double take and then I recognised him - Aladdin Alouba - a face from the past. One of those magical Egyptian players from the 1970's. He disappeared into an office marked Tournament Referee - and you know me ............. never shy!!. I entered the office to ask how the years had been for this old ace of the courts. Alaa welcomed me with a smile that is full of warmth and the charm of an Omar Sharif. Yes, I had the right man - as a young professional he had come to England and based himself for many years at the Courtlands Park Country Club in Essex. A coach who was loved by the members - an educated man who was blessed with the Egyptian wrist. Alaa not only won the Welsh Open the East of Scotland & the South of England Open but was ranked No 1 in Egypt in 1975. Quite something when you look at the quality of players that were on the tour then. He was to leave The Courtlands Park Country Club to return to his beloved Cairo and also the world of Commercial Banking. Interestingly he was succeeded by his old friend Ahmed Safwat, who sadly died only recently - another lovely Egyptian player. Today Alaa is the Technical Consultant for the QSF. In Doha he enjoys a high reputation and what about that old wrist - well it's still deceptive not only on the squash court but also on the tennis court. At the end of our chat he was off again to set the next days referee schedule. Nice to see you again Aladdin. Robert Edwards

BYRON DAVIS:
PROUD TO BE AIS…

One thing you’ve got to realise is that during qualifiers, you do not normally have hundreds of spectators, and it’s very easy to meet the people who are watching the games…

And that’s how I met charming Byron Davis, coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, whose been working for about two years side by side with legend Geoff Hunt and Champion Rodney Martin.

“I used to be a professional squash player,” explained Byron, proudly wearing an AIS shirt.

“My best world ranking was 14, and I trained myself at the Institute with Geoff and Martin, which obviously helped me understand their methodology as a coach. Those two have done it all, and it’s such a chance to work with them, it’s such a fantastic opportunity.”

The Institute welcomes players between the age of 18 to 22 who stay for about four or five years on a full time basis, before they start spending more time overseas. And then they spend less time in Brisbane, where the AIS is situated, and the coaches there make sure that quantity translates into quality time.

“Also, Rodney is based in New York, and that allows those players who are working a lot abroad to have a base in the US, and to receive advice and support.”

Byron is hardly a beginner, as he coached the Australian Team that clinched the World Title in 2003 in Vienna out of the French hands (how dare he???), and he will be coaching the 2005 Team in Pakistan, and also the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Team.

“Those games are huge for us, and it’s a big goal. Geoff, Rodney and myself have organised training camps to be prepared for the occasion, and we also tried out our teams during the last World Doubles Event in Chennai.” (that Byron actually won if my memory is good, along with Cameron White).

“Our funding will greatly depend on the medal tally, and that’s why our results there are so vital for us.”

Very calm and level headed, that Byron when it comes to his future: “I’ve been very lucky to have been at the right place at the right time, and I hope to be able to continue having the immense chance to work in such a great environment, and to function on the same page, on the same wave as those great two coaches that are Geoff and Rodney. I would like to spend as much time as possible with them to learn, and stay with the Institute as long as we can keep producing great players…"