What is Mohamed Salah doing in his village?

Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah, who plays for Liverpool.

Video: Sawiris opens the box... What is Mohamed Salah doing in his village?

"Number one... the master of giving," Egyptian media personality Hala Sarhan responded on Monday to a video posted by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris on the X platform, in which he spoke about the charitable work done by international football stars, most notably Egyptian professional footballer Mohamed Salah, who plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League.

Salah's story transcends the Ballon d'Or race and the buzz of the Premier League, landing in the small village of Nagrig in the Gharbia Governorate of northern Egypt. There, the stardom of the "Egyptian King" has transformed into development projects and a lifeline for the local residents.

A charitable foundation in his village: Salah's success at Anfield wasn't just about bank accounts; it was translated into tangible results in his hometown, the village in the Nile Delta, through the "Mohamed Salah Charitable Foundation."

 In this context, Maher Anwar Shtayeh, the village mayor, confirmed that Salah didn't limit himself to occasional acts of charity, but established a well-organized entity that currently supports approximately 400 of the most needy families with regular monthly stipends, transforming him from a football player into a community leader. Entirely.

He added that the global star built a fully equipped Al-Azhar institute at a cost exceeding 17 million Egyptian pounds, illuminating the paths of knowledge for the children of his village. 

The mayor pointed out that in 2018, Salah donated a huge financial bonus—a reward for qualifying for the World Cup—and directed it towards developing Basyoun Central Hospital at a cost of 18 million Egyptian pounds, equipping it with a complete artificial respiration unit at his own expense.

Furthermore, he indicated that the football star's assistance to Nagrig has extended to every aspect of daily life, from donating land for sewage treatment plants to building a fully equipped ambulance unit, and even establishing a modern post office that recently opened. The village mayor said that Salah has built a sense of security for the people of his village, who follow his matches as if they were national battles being fought by their beloved son.

The Beloved Son of Egypt in His Village: The Global Player Mohamed Salah   

"Just A drop in the ocean "

On the other hand, Captain Gamry El-Saadany, Salah's first coach, believes that what is being announced is "just the drop in the ocean." He said, "The global player believes He explained that charitable work is a humanitarian mission whose value is diminished by ostentation. Therefore, much of his aid is done discreetly, away from the limelight,  reflecting the values ​​and ethics he was raised with.

He also pointed out that the public projects and services implemented within the village at Salah's own expense are only a fraction of his true generosity. He emphasized that there are many other charitable and humanitarian acts he performs discreetly, without publicity, out of his commitment to sincerity and his aversion to seeking fame.

He concluded by affirming that "in the eyes of the world, Salah is a goal-scoring machine, but in the eyes of the people of Nagrig, he is their devoted son who never hesitates to lend a helping hand, a player whose childhood memories in the alleys of Gharbia have not been erased by the bright lights of London, ensuring his name remains etched in their hearts before it is even written in the pages of sporting history."