8 Facts About Egypt’s Participation in the Africa Cup of Nations

By: Mariam Elhamy

This is the fifth time Egypt has hosted the games since 1957, but we’ve broken quite a few records along the way! Did you know an Egyptian player was the first to score a hat-trick goal in the games?! Check out these 8 facts about Egypt and our role in the Africa Cup of Nations!

1 – Egypt will host the games for the fifth time. They previously hosted the Cup of Nations in 1959, 1974, 1986 and 2006, winning three out of these four tournaments and finishing third in the fourth.

2 – Only three countries, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia took part in the first tournament in 1957 and there was no qualifying competition.

3 –Egypt has won the most number of times, securing seven titles, followed by Cameroon (five times), Ghana (four times), Nigeria (three times) and the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Ivory Coast (two times each).

4 – Egypt goalkeeper Essam el Hadary became the oldest player to compete in the games at 44 years when he competed in the 2017 games.

5– Coach Hassan Shehata has led the Egypt team to victory three times in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

6 -Player Ahmed Hassan had competed in the games eight times: in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

7 – Ad-Diba is the first player to score a hat-trick in the African Cup of Nations during the final game of the 1957 tournament.

8 – Countries can only keep the current model of trophy if they win three titles, which Egypt did in 2010.

4 Challenging Sports to Try in Cairo

Getting a bit bored with your workout routine and hobbies? Maybe it’s time to try something different.

Archery

Although archery is said to go back to the Stone Age in approximately 20,000BC, the earliest people known to have used bows and arrows were the Ancient Egyptians, who took up archery around 3,000BC for hunting and warfare. A sport demanding great concentration, archery improves your focus, hand-eye coordination, and improves your upper strength.

Equestrian Endurance Egypt

Like many equestrian sports, endurance riding has its roots in the training of military horses. They were often required to travel long distances over highly varied and hazardous terrain, and the hardy Arabian horse adapted to desert work. Endurance riding takes a lot of effort and training to build up stamina, and needs an experienced horse and rider in terms of physical ability and judgment.

Fencing

Swordsmanship has been around for centuries, and historical references date fencing schools back to the 12th century. It wasn’t until the 18th century that the Italian school of fencing of the Renaissance era was refined by the French school. Fencing is a great way to increase flexibility as it requires the use of a wide range of motion to respond and deflect opposing attacks. The core, arms, and legs all get an extensive workout as well as being a great way to burn calories and build up endurance.

Parkour

Parkour has borrowed a lot from military obstacle course training. It takes skills, fitness and training to get from Point A to Point B, navigating obstacles and tough terrain as quickly and efficiently as possible with no equipment to help you. Like many other high impact sports, Parkour helps develop bone strength. Both the lower body and upper body are involved in high impact movements, building stronger bones from the impact they endure.

Archery

 

Archers Academy

Facebook: @archersacademy.eg

Tel: 0100 162 3101

 

Equestrian Endurance

Web: www.endurance-egypt.org

Web: www.eefegypt.org

 

Fencing

 

Target Fencing Academy

Facebook: @TargetFencingAcademy

Tel: 0101 019 1466

 

Alrehab Fencing Academy

Tel:  0127 129 6550

Parkour

 

Parkour Egypt

Tel: 0103 087 6337

Facebook: @ParkourEgypt

Ahmed Ezz as Commander Nour in El Mamar

El Mamar Movie, The Passage movie, فيلم الممر

Having proven his box office draw numerous times before, Ahmed Ezz is back this summer with a lead role in one of the year’s most anticipated films. Helmed by director Sherif Arafa and driven by producer Khaled Abdel Khalek, El Mamar is an epic film of massive proportions. Ezz’s role as Commander Nour is pegged to be a highlight of his career, so we caught up with the stoic actor to find out more about what audiences can expect.

CWM: What did it feel like to take part in such a historic film like El Mamar?

AE: El Mamar is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it’s the kind of role that an actor would dream of playing. But I believe audiences should enter the cinema expecting more than just a war movie. I believe this is a film about the human condition, and about regaining dignity after being knocked down. I felt like the objective of the movie was to show that without hard work and strategy, there is no success. There is definitely a lot of action, and audiences will be blown away by that, but there is also a humanistic element to the film.

You play a commander in the film, what can you tell us about him?

Commander Nour deals with a traumatic experience due to the withdrawal of Egyptian troops from Sinai in 1967. It deeply affects his relations with his colleagues in the army, and also his family life at home, to the extent that he can no longer live at home.Mohamed Farrag

Tell us a bit about the time period that the film addresses.

The film shows the build up of events leading up to the Six-Day War and portrays the mental state that Egypt was going through at the time. Not just the Egyptian Armed Forces, also the average citizen and the overall state of the nation. This is why I say it’s not only a war-time movie about tanks and planes, we’re also talking about Egyptian society during that time and what it was going through as a result of 1967.

This is the first time you work with an acclaimed director like Sherif Arafa. What sets him apart from other directors you’ve worked with in the past?

This is the first time I work with him on a movie set, but we have worked on a few commercials together! It’s an honor to work with someone on his level of professionalism; most actors I know would love to have a film with him on their CV. What makes him special is that he combines two important elements, the artistic side and discipline, in order to achieve the best results. This makes his actors comfortable and relaxed when on set.

How did you prepare for this challenging role?

For starters, Sherif Arafa set up a grueling 6-week boot camp for all those involved in the battle scenes to receive proper training on the use of weapons and military equipment! Then when filming began, there were some challenging set locations in desert and mountainous terrain. There wasn’t any sort of shelter we could use during filming breaks, so it was incredibly hard to shoot some scenes. However, I feel like the patriotic nature of the film gave all of us the will and drive to carry on with the work.

What type of military assistance did the production receive?

The Egyptian Armed Forces assisted the film’s production in a logistical sense, by providing the military equipment we needed to make the scenes believable and the locations we were able to shoot in. These locations are usually impossible to access due to security reasons, obviously. However, the producer of the film did not cut any corners with making this project a success. This is evident from all the big names behind and in front of the camera. I feel like this is a landmark film of the era.

There are rumors the film had a massive budget of over 100 million pounds, is that true?

I don’t have the specific numbers, but I’m sure this is the biggest production Egypt has ever made due to the nature of the film – certainly the biggest production in Arab cinema. This would have never happened without the courage of our producer Hisham Abdel Khalek, who up until this point has produced comedy films, but suddenly decided to take on a project of this scale – I’m positive this is due to his extreme patriotic nature.

Would you say you are satisfied with your efforts?

I can safely say this is the hardest role I’ve ever played, both physically and artistically. However, it will be a bright spot and high point in my career for sure.

El Mamar Movie, The Passage movie, فيلم الممر

DNA Testing: Your Personal Blueprint for Optimal Nutrition and Wellness

By Dr. Randa Ragy

DNA is the code in your cells. It is the richest but also most complex treasure of information that we’ve ever attempted to understand. Throughout the course of the 20th century we gained a firm grasp of the basics of biological inheritance: how genes are passed from one generation to another and how they encode the proteins that all life is built of.

Nutrition DNA as a new test

DNA testing has already been used by many people to help trace their ancestry, find their biological parents, and discover genetic dispositions to certain life-threatening diseases, but now the familiar spit-in-a-tube DNA sampling method has another purpose. DNA nutrition testing is a recent innovation for finding your own specific right diet. It can be applied to anyone regardless of age. However, it is not carried out under the age of 18 as a default.

What is a DNA test?

Experts in the world of diet, health, weight loss, and fitness are turning to DNA testing for a more accurate picture of your body’s disposition toward foods and fitness for better results. With DNA testing, you can tailor your nutrition and fitness plan to fit your individual genetic makeup. While choosing a diet plan based on your genetic makeup may seem somewhat too futuristic to be real, it’s really not a major stretch of the imagination to consider there being a genetic tie to weight gain. After all, obesity has already been proven to have genetic variants. So, these tests just take things one step further, exploring your body type and your genetic makeup to determine what your triggers are.

DNA testing and weight loss

The main concept behind DNA testing for optimal nutrition and weight loss is that your body responds differently to various stimulants (specifically food and exercise) than someone else’s body. Since your DNA sequencing holds loads of information about you including your genetic disposition toward diseases, sleep patterns etc. It’s not surprising that researchers are finding the information you need to understand which foods are best for your body too. Your genomes can tell researchers this, and in turn, they can tell you which foods are helpful to you for trimming down and which ones are preventing weight loss, how much of each sort of food your body needs and the proper food combinations to reach the optimal BMI and overall health goals.  It can also detect any deficiencies you might have and what you need to cut out of your diet that is keeping you from reaching your optimal health and wellbeing. This includes how your body responds to carbs and or fats and what is the best macronutrient percentage that fits your unique body. It helps you to make right choices to fit within your lifestyle.

The results will provide you with food recommendations, menu plans, and meal ideas. The suggestions are made up of foods that will help you achieve your goals. What’s more, DNA testing is being used to determine which exercise routines will yield the most results for you as well, whether it’s HIIT (high-intensity interval training) or weight lifting. The truth is that your body will respond to the right workout routine for it, and not respond as well to the wrong one. In a nut- shell, results will determine which exercises will get your body moving so that you can maximize that gym time and sculpt your body the way you want.

How are tests done?

The process varies depending on the service provider of your choice. You will simply provide a saliva sample by swabbing the inside of your cheek, putting it in a provided tube and sending for testing. In some cases, you can also send a blood sample collected simply by a needle prick. The reports usually take a few weeks to reach you back. Various companies will track different areas, but in general, DNA testing will register as many as 32 different genetic markers, including areas that affect weight loss, nutrition, allergies, food sensitivities, lactose and gluten intolerance, coffee sensitivity and overall fitness. There are numerous companies that offer DNA testing, but not all of them will give you the right information you need for diet and weight loss planning. You have to look for ones that specifically test for these factors. It’s also important to recognize that personalized genetics companies differ in their testing methods, the scientific basis for those tests and how they translate results into advice for you to follow.

How is the information used?

The information the test provides should be used to correct lifestyle interventions to match the individual genetic makeup which should lead to achieving optimal health goals.

While some of the info provided can be a game-changer for some people in terms of their compliance to better habits, the directness of the advice, claims appear to be largely over-hyped. In addition, genetics are only a small part of the story. How you live your life, the kind of diet you have, whether you have any infections or you are under high stress, if you live in a polluted environment – all these factors collectively have a significant effect.

There’s still significant research to be done in order to fully maximize this type of diet planning, and even with the most accurate results, at the end of the day, you will still have to practice self-control and discipline to achieve your health goals.

Bottom line, DNA nutrition testing is an incredibly eye-opening experience, one I believe will enlighten you for the rest of your life. However, with slightly different methods for sequencing genes and the scientific understanding of gene expression still in its infancy, there are a lot of conclusions left up to interpretation.

With or without DNA testing, my advice stays the same. Whatever your health goal is, whether  for keeping a healthy weight, avoiding cancer, lowering the risk of heart diseases or diabetes; eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, don’t eat too much meat, choose whole grains over processed flour, cut back on sugar and salt, exercise 3-4 times a week, sleep well and practice relaxation techniques to release stress.

Dr. Randa Ragy

Clinical and Holistic Nutritionist

Oasis Clinics

 

 

Staying Active in Your Golden Years

Exercise is an important part of everyone’s overall health and wellbeing. This is true for older adults, too! We tend to become more sedentary with age. This may be due to health problems, weight or pain issues, or worries about falling. While these may seem like good reasons to slow down as you age, there are better reasons to get moving. As you grow older, an active lifestyle becomes more important for your health. In 2008, the World Health Organization found that nearly 3.2 million people across the world died due to inactivity.

There are many benefits of exercising for seniors:

  • It improves mobility, endurance and flexibility as well as balance, which in turn helps with coordination, and reduces the risk of falls. This helps you stay independent.
  • It helps maintain or shed weight. Exercise helps increase metabolism which naturally slows with age.
  • It reduces the risk for a variety of conditions including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and osteoporosis. Strength training also helps alleviate the symptoms of some chronic conditions such as arthritis.
  • Exercising regularly can boost the immune system and help fight off illness.

    Senior athlete on running track
  • It can elevate overall mood and improve sleep.
  • It can improve cognitive functions (how the brain works).

It is safe for most seniors to exercise. If there are any health concerns or current inactivity, a doctor must be consulted first.

It can be challenging at the beginning but well worth it as it becomes a habit. Reaping the rewards of exercise doesn’t have to involve strenuous workouts or hitting the gym. Just begin with gentle activities and build up from there.

According to the National Institute of Aging, there are four main types of exercises that suit seniors:

  • Strengthening Exercisesare necessary for muscle strengthening and can help reduce muscle loss.
  • Endurance Exercises help maintain joint function. Included in this group are swimming and walking which help improve heart health as well. Swimming also has the advantage of not putting strain on the body and joints
  • Balance Exercises help with the normally occurring of loss of balance, so practicing them can help reduce the frequency of falls.
  • Stretching Exercises are necessary to keep the lumbar region healthy and flexible.

 

You can begin with stretches and move onto balance exercises before switching to more advanced exercises. There are exercise programs especially geared for seniors; however, many can be modified with weights, repetitions, or duration to suit your needs.

 

If your muscles or joints are sore the day after exercising, you may have done too much. Next time, exercise at a lower intensity. If the pain or discomfort persists, you should talk to your doctor. You should also talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms while exercising:

  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • Light-headedness or dizziness.
  • Difficulty with balance.
  • Nausea

Remember! No matter your age or physical condition, it’s never too late to get your body moving and improve how you age.

This article was brought to you by Tabibi 24/7, Cairo’s leading Family Medicine & Pediatrics group practice. Tabibi operates 24/7 and offers its services at the comfort of your own home or in one of its clinics.
 
For more information, call 16724 or visit  www.tabibi247.com

8 Cycling Groups to Join in Cairo

By: Mariam Elhamy

Celebrating the groups that made cycling around Cairo an easy, fun and exciting activity is the least we could do on World Bicycle Day! We’ve collected a list of the most popular groups and pages that facilitate cycling or organize rides so that you can find a group in your area and start cycling around Cairo.

Zayed Runners, Sports and Bikes

Zayed Runners, Sports and Bikes is a group that does sports activities and cycles in 6th of October City and Sheikh Zayed. You’ll find their rides announced on the Facebook group.

Cairo Bike Polo

Cairo Bike Polo organizes rides all over Cairo. Go on one of their fun bike rides announced weekly through Facebook and Instagram. You’ll also find cool photos from the last ride.

StarBike

StarBike is a fun group in Nasr City that organizes and facilitates riding events in a safe and friendly environment.

StarBike’s Facebook / Instagram

Go Bike

Go Bike is a cycling school that also organizes riding events all over Cairo.

Go Bike’s Facebook / Instagram

Bescletta

Bescletta is a bicycle shop that organizes riding events and activities.

Bescletta’s Facebook / Instagram 

4Bike

4Bike is a page that organizes creative events and rides around Zamalek.

4Bike’s Facebook / Instagram

Cairo Cycler’s Club

Cairo Cycler’s Club is a group that organizes rides and posts any new info regarding cycling in Egypt on their Facebook.

Sekketak Khadra 

Sekketak Khadra is an initiative for promoting bike racks in Egypt and to assert the presence of the bicycle in our daily life. They have implemented the project in some areas in Heliopolis and Downtown. They also post rides on Facebook.

Bikes Park 

Bikes Park is a huge area for bikers to enjoying riding away from the hustle and bustle of the streets and in an actual path made for bicycles. It’s located in Future City near Madinaty.

Bikes Park’s Facebook 

Sprawling Views at The Smokery in Palm Hills, Sheikh Zayed

The Smokery in Palm Hills

Walking into the new branch of the already reputed The Smokery, we couldn’t help but be dazzled by the beautifully large terrace overlooking the Palm Hills golf course during a gorgeous sunset. Caught by welcoming and cozy vibes, we sat down and got ready to scope the menu of one of the best restaurants in Sheikh Zayed, offering international cuisine gems.

Signature Dishes & Dishes Samples

Signature dishes include the Salmon Teriyaki Salad, Salade Parisienne, Salmon Tartare, Beef Carpaccio, and Steak Café de Paris.

After a long look at the menu, we were torn, and so decided to let our waiter sway us with his recommendations.

We were welcomed with a refreshing Passion Fruit Lemonade that got our taste buds tingling, it arrived on our table with a basket of warm bread and butter. It wasn’t long until our friendly waiter showed up with two beautifully presented large salads, the Salade Parisienne and the Salmon Teriyaki Salad. The Salade Parisienne is composed of fresh crispy Iceberg lettuce, topped with chicken breast, cheese cubes, boiled egg, sweet corn and apple to add a sweet note to this well put-together balance of flavors. The seared salmon on the Salmon Teriyaki Salad stole the show. Cooked to perfection, marinated in Soy Sauce for that delicious Japanese Teriyaki touch, the salmon fillets got us fighting to the last bite.

It was then time to move to the main, and the smiles on our faces could not have been bigger when the Steak Café de Paris arrived. Served on a wooden plank, accompanied by golden crispy thin-cut French fries and grilled vegetables, the two sliced up steaks could not have been presented any better. Grilled to a medium, just like we asked for, the pieces of meat were juicy and tender, and most importantly tasty! The fries were fresh, and the grilled capsicum, aubergine, and zucchini were a great addition to this dish.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

Goat Cheese Beetroot Salad, Salmon Tartare and Filet Au Poivre are some dishes on the menu that we are eager to try the next time around.

Beverages options include soft drinks, alcoholic options, and delicious mocktails, such as the Passion Fruit Lemonade we were sipping on throughout dinner.

  • The Smokery in Palm Hills

Décor & Ambience

The Smokery’s terrace looking out onto the Palm Hills golf course is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day. Seating is a mix of lounge tables and sofas, regular dining tables and high tables. Neutral colors, mostly wood and white, and comfortable space between each table, gave us a sense of serenity and peace. The view at sunset time is to die for, a great way to woo your date, or your business associates.

Clientele mix: Since The Smokery finds itself directly on a golf course, plenty of golfers will finish off their 18 holes with a drink or a meal on the beautiful terrace. Groups of friends, dates and business dinners are also common.

Contact Information

Opening hours: 10 am to 1 am

Address: Palm Hills Compound, Sheikh Zayed

Tel: 0121 127 0078

Facebook: @SmokeryPH

Instagram: @thesmokery

Website: www.thesmokery.net

The Smokery in Palm Hills

New Menu! India Along the Nile, Semiramis InterContinental

India Along the Nile

New chef, new menu! India Along the Nile has welcomed Sanjib Kumar as head chef. Chef Kumar brings with him the flavors of Eastern India, West Bengal, and Calcutta where the British and the Portuguese left their mark on the cuisine there. This region of India is famous for their slow-cooked meats, desserts, and easy-to-eat street food. The Indian restaurant is a great spot for fine dining in Garden City.

New on the menu: There are 30+ new menu items, so hungry diners will be spoiled for choice. Each section of the menu has been updated with a dazzling array of options.

Dishes Sampled 

Armed with a delicious Garlic Naan and Potato Kulcha, a potato and onion stuffed bread, we eagerly awaited the appetizers to arrive. In quick succession, the Murgh Achari Tikka arrived, a selection of extremely tender chunks of chargrilled chicken tikka cubes marinated in tangy pickles. Followed swiftly by the Chingri Chaap, butterfly prawns marinated in ginger, garlic and spices then coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried golden, and lastly the Punjabi Samosa, a crisp patty filled with potato and green peas, served with a mint chutney. All appetizers were in perfect proportion to allow space for the main courses.

The Kosha Mangso was the star of the evening, a Bengali specialty of lamb shank cooked with onion, tomato, potato, and ground spices – tender meat falling off the bone, just as we like it! The Butter Chicken was delicious and creamy, the perfect balance to the deep richness of the lamb. The Sikandari Raan was a truly delectable dish of tender lamb cubes cooked in a slightly spicy sauce, perfect for eating and sopping up with naan bread. Highly recommended.

Finally, we sealed the evening with an order of Gulab Phirni, a rose water flavored rice pudding. Delicate and light was the correct note to end a lovely evening.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available 

With dozens of options available, where to start? Beverages options include full bar available, in addition to soft and hot drinks.

  • India Along the Nile

Décor and Ambience

This restaurant boasts impeccable service and attention to detail, it’s really perfect for date night. Dark red interiors, wood accents and low lighting make this space an intimate and cozy affair. The staff are very discreet and well-mannered, which is always a pleasure.

Clientele mix: Hotel guests, business colleagues, and couples in their 30s.

Price range: Above average.

Contact Information

Opening hours: 12 pm – Midnight

Address: Semiramis Intercontinental – Corniche El Nil, Garden City

Tel: 02 2798 8188

Facebook/Instagram: @SemiramisIC

Crave’s New Branch in Mall of Arabia

Life is getting even better for Sheikh Zayed residents. Crave is now open in the new extension of Mall of Arabia, offering an exciting menu and a perfect space to chill out with friends and family.

Signature Dishes & Dishes Sampled

There are some innovative new items on the already comprehensive international fusion menu. Dishes to head for are Chicken Dukkah Salad, Taco Salad, Chicken Dynamite, Wild Mushroom and Truffle Oil Pasta, Steak Pizza, Philly Cheese Bowl Sandwich, Pepper Soy Beef, Sriracha Salmon, and the perennial favorite, Shrimp Konafa.

The sun was setting as we ensconced ourselves next to the picture window overlooking the greenery of The Park, great timing for a cool drink. It was a tough choice, as there were so many tempting options, but the fresh ginger and berry laden Wild Booster and Strawberry Basil Crush hit the spot perfectly.

We planned to try some of the new dishes, and didn’t take long to tuck into a huge shared dish of Chicken Dynamite, along with an old favorite, Shrimp Konafa. They both delivered on flavor and presentation, from the light, non-greasy exterior to the succulent chicken, tempura vegetables and shrimp. The two different dipping sauces; spicy, cheesy Dynamite and a sweet chili, set the dishes off to a “t”.

Please note that portions are really large, so we were happy to share, saving space for the Pepper Soy Beef and Salmon Sriracha which followed. The beef was tender filet, and teamed up with colored bell peppers and onion in a rich peppery soy sauce, it was a delight. The basmati rice came accented with finely chopped spring onion and zucchini, creating a perfect balance for the spicy sauce.

The salmon came paired with a smooth pea purée, sautéed vegetables and strips of cucumber and nori, giving it a true seafood aroma. This all barely left room for the highly recommended steak pizza, which was a shame, as it was excellent. You can’t beat the combination of hot-from-the-oven pizza, with a true homemade crust, laden with gooey provolone cheese, mixed peppers, garlic confit, artichoke and spinach, all topped with slices of tender fillet steak.

After a break to chat and enjoy the relaxed vibe and well-curated playlist we succumbed and agreed to share dessert. Anyone feeling calorie-deprived should opt for the Lotus Konafa Bomb with Cheese. Served hot, with a massive scoop of lotus ice-cream on the side, as well as a jug of decadent caramel Lotus sauce, it was an early reminder of treats in store for Ramadan.

Other Menu Options that Appealed

We would love to come back for the salads and explore the pizza options a bit further. But everything on the menu looked great.

Décor and Ambience

The understated interior is effortlessly chic. Pared back taupe and beige; leather teamed with wood, and black iron work supporting contemporary industrial lighting, it is very on trend. Spread comfortably between indoor and outdoor areas, Crave overlooks The Park, giving the feel of being close to nature. We loved the playlist of female vocals, some old, some new, but all good listening. Suffice it to say, the service was exceptional. We would expect nothing else from Crave.

Clientele mix: Urban professionals, early 20s upwards. Smart, on-trend groups of friends and couples.

Price range:  Moderate, and super value considering the portion sizes.

Worth noting:  Catering is available – Tel: 0128 800 0034

Contact information

Opening hours:  Normal hours 12 pm to 12 am.

Address: Mall of Arabia, New Extension.

Facebook: @craveegypt

Instagram: crave_egypt

 

 

 

 

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