Mido celebrates for Middlesbrough
Having played in no less than six countries, Ahmed Hossam, affectionately known as Mido, has already gained a lot of valuable experience in his professional career.
Kick It Out caught up with the Middlesbrough star to talk about the power of football, his religion and how high profile sports stars can help make a difference.
You've played in Egypt, Holland, France, Spain, Italy and England. How have you found it? What has your experience been of racism in football?
I love playing football and experiencing new cultures, languages and making friends so for me it's been a dream. So I haven't really faced too many problems except a small incident of racial abuse last year.
As a practising Muslim, would you say your faith has helped your career?
It has helped me a lot because I do believe in something. When you believe in that something then it brings everything within easy reach and helps you achieve your targets. A religion may be a different way of thinking, a different idea or mentality but at the end it¹s always the same because you work hard. It doesn't matter what you work hard for or what your goal is, as long as you work hard.
Do you fast during Ramadan?
I do fast and to be honest, I never had any problems with it. It's not as difficult as people think, it's very easy. I eat early in the morning and your body adapts, it's difficult for the first few days, but it becomes easier and I never had any problems during games or training.
Can sports stars help youngsters understand other religions?
Sports stars are in a unique position as we are visible to large groups of young people and our actions and words can be quite influential. If we can use that for good, then we will always try to get people to understand a subject - religion, football, education or anything like that. Football is being used in Palestine to bring together Jewish and Palestinian communities.
Do you believe football can unify people?
Absolutely. Of course. Football has only one language and no religion and that¹s why football can get people together. When people play on the pitch, the only division is the sporting rivalry between the two teams as everyone is there to play the game together.
