I will not be Egypt's only leader, says veteran Khalaf

CAIRO (FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017) - Ahmed Khalaf will be playing in his second FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup for Egypt. But the center insists he will not be the team’s only leader in Cairo this summer.

Khalaf is the only player to have played at two FIBA U17 Basketball World Cups and will also be playing his second U19 global showcase from 1-9 July in his native Egypt.

"I will be a good leader by pushing them, but they will help me too," said Khalaf, who is still a bottom level player having only turned 18 years old in late February. "I am working to help my team, and I'm sure that they are working hard to be better too. We will have more than one leader. Some players were with me at some of the (youth) World Cups. You can say we all will be leaders."

Esam Mostafa, for example, also played at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015 in Crete, where Egypt finished 11th of 16 teams. Mostafa joined forces with Khalaf again last summer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016 in Zaragoza, Spain, where both players averaged double-doubles in points and rebounds but Egypt finished last with a 1-6 record. 

That big man duo was two of five 1999-born players who guided Egypt to second place at the FIBA U18 Africa Championship 2016, along with Tarek Raafat, Mohamed Ramadan and Mohamed Youssef. Raafat was the team's leading scorer last summer and named to the All-Star Five, while Youssef topped the team in assists. The top two players from the 1998-born generation will be Seifeldin Elsandily and Omar Farag, both who had strong roles at the U18 continental championship last summer.

"We are not so young any more and now every player knows how important it is. Everyone will be watching how we play and how good we are. We have to show our best for our country," Khalaf said.

The 6ft 9in (2.06m) center said his appearance at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2015 was a real eye-opener.

"The U19 was such a good level. They had more experience than the U17 for sure and I see so many players from the World Cup playing in good teams or the NBA. I learned a lot from the U19," said Khalaf, who played against a United States team in 2015 with the likes of Chinanu Okuaku, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles, Terrance Ferguson and Caleb Swanigan.

Khalaf's strong showings were not lost on those outside of Egypt as the Giza native was spending his second season in Spain with the club Manresa.

"I've learned to be a better player to help my team and to be a better person too," Khalaf said of his time abroad. "It will help me to show myself more in Cairo."

"I will be a good leader by pushing them, but they will help me too. I am working to help my team, and I'm sure that they are working hard to be better too. We will have more than one leader. Some players were with me at some of the (youth) World Cups. You can say we all will be leaders."Ahmed KhalafAhmed Khalaf

Khalaf also anxiously awaits playing in front of home fans at the first major international competition on the continent of Africa.

"It will be something special, not like any time before. It will be the last youth World Cup for me," Khalaf said. "It's so beautiful to play in Egypt in front of my people. We have very good fans too. I hope we show something special."

When asked what Egypt must do to be successful in Cairo, Khalaf answered: "We have to be like one hand, everybody together - players, coaches and regular people. And to fight one final time for Egypt."

FIBA