Egyptian international Ahmed Hassan "Koka", striker for Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, sent a strong and moving message of support to his national teammate Mohamed Salah, star of Liverpool FC, following the recent crisis in which the "Egyptian Pharaoh" was benched for three consecutive matches for the Reds, a matter that sparked widespread controversy in international and local sports circles.
Koka's message: Salah is not like the rest of the players
On his official Facebook page, Koka posted a lengthy message fiercely defending Salah's right to be a starter, comparing him to the legends of the game. Koka wrote: "As footballers, when we find ourselves on the bench, we feel deep sadness, frustration, even a little depression, but we wait for that moment to come so we can make an impact and show the coach why we deserve to start. This is the reality for most of us, but Mohamed Salah is not most of us; Mo is in a different category, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.".
The Al-Ettifaq professional added, criticizing the way Salah was technically treated: “Players like these are not excluded from the bench, and if they start for any reason on the bench, you must make sure that they are the first to participate, 60 or 65 minutes maximum, but not not participating at all or participating late, this is disrespectful to everything he has given to the club.”.
Historical context: Liverpool's living legend
Koka's comments come at a sensitive time for Mohamed Salah and his club, Liverpool, where Salah is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the prestigious English club. Since joining the Reds in 2017, Salah has broken numerous records, becoming the club's all-time top scorer in the Premier League and leading the club to titles that had eluded them for many years, most notably the Champions League and the Premier League. This historical background makes his benching unusual and raises questions about the manager's tactical decisions, a point Koka clearly alluded to when he spoke about "respect.".
Supporting professionals and its moral impact
Koka concluded his message with words reflecting the deep brotherly relationship between the Egyptian national team players who are professionals abroad, saying: "Salah is not just a teammate, he is a brother, a leader and a legend for the club and the country. My brother, every situation in life is temporary, moments like these pass, what remains is your greatness and the way you respond.".
This public support from a player of Ahmed Hassan Kouka's stature and experience is a testament to the strong solidarity among Egyptian players abroad and underscores Mohamed Salah's exceptional status as captain of the national team and a symbol of Arab football. It also highlights the psychological pressures faced by top-tier international stars when their playing roles diminish, and how to deal with these changes professionally. Kouka compared Salah's situation to that of legends like Messi and Ronaldo, who typically refuse secondary roles given their illustrious careers and overwhelming influence on the field.
