The History

The Origins

One evening in April 2003, Ahmed El Sehify received a phone call from founder father of the El Gouna resort at the Red Sea, Samih Sawiris, travelling in Germany at the time. Ahmed, who had been Mr Sawiris' co-worker long before their pioneering exploits in El Gouna recalls: "Samih has a vision of not only building a town from scratch but also provide it with the necessary assets to serve the growing community. So Samih claimed a sporting club to be a welcoming contribution to the young, vibrant and ever developing El Gouna. Ahmed contacted The Ministery of Sports and the Egyptian Football Federation on 1 May 2003 to set the wheels in motion. Two months later, on 1 July 2003, El Gouna FC was born under the approval number79. The club embarked on a promotion campaign in Cairo in the summer of 2003 to attract pioneering players and set up a training camp at the quarters of Gizah based Embaba Club to interview the entrepreneurs who would be instrumental in a fairy tale in the making. Back home, the players wih full-time contracts were accommodated full board in chalets near the club's ground in the Bustan area of El Gouna. El Gouna FC took on the yellow and blue from the town's emblem, reflecting the azure waters and sandy beaches of this beautiful resort. The orange trim is a connotation with the starfish incorporated in the same emblem.

The League Years

2003/2004

El Gouna's footballing exploits took off to a flying start in October 2003 when the club participated in the lowly doldrums of the 4th division of the Egyptian League. The maiden team proved too strong for Red Sea opposition such as Safaga, El Qusier and El Rihalat from Hurghada. They finished champions in true style, not having conceded a single defeat. A mere five teams from the Red Sea area participated in the competion.

Zihad Mahmoud Fahmy became the first ever goal scorer for El Gouna FC in the first ever league match against El Rihalat who were at the receiving end with a 4-0 demolishing. Ironically, he was also the first player in El Gouna's yellow and blue to be booked in that same match. Safaga were the first team to draw with El Gouna FC in the last match of the season. That remarkable first season, coach Mohamed Fouad was at the helm, building an invincible team, assisted by Gamel El Said.

 

Promotion Celebration Party 2004/2005 season

Then, on Wednesday 29 december 2005, Nil Sohaq's striker Rami Kalushi, appropriately nicknamed Kalushnikov, scrambled in a last gap injury time goal to set up a shock at the El Gouna Ground on Wednesday 29 December 2005. A devastating result for the home site, their first ever home defeat since their inception. The club however managed to regain itself from this horrific scenario and went on their familiar winning streaks again, only to finish as champions again, a feat that has never been achieved before by any other team in the entire history of Egyptian football. As a result El Gouna FC qualified for the play-offs, together with Nil Sohaq from the same division, joined by Telefonad Beni Suef and Petrol Assyut from the other Upper Egypt second division. It appeared to be a bridge too far for the club, with Petrol Assyut and Telefonad Beni Suef both winning their matches at the El Gouna ground. El Gouna FC managed to beat Nil Sohaq twice but to no avail.

Eventually, Petrol Assyut managed to reach the Momtaz with El Gouna FC licking their wounds with a new season at second division level beckoning. A promising season ending on a disappointing note; yet El Gouna FC can be proud of her achievements.

2003/2004

El Gouna FC were knocked out of the Egyptian Cup at their very first attempt during the 2003/04 season when El Mastakbal from Ismailia proved to strong in the first round on their home soil. El Gouna managed to go into extra time with 1-1 on the scoreboard after 90 minutes. Eventually, the 120 minutes proved too long for unexperienced El Gouna, beaten by 3-2.

2004/2005

El Gouna wrote nationwide headlines though in 2004/2005 by beating holders Arab Contractors at their own gigantic ground in Cairo in the 2nd round of the Egyptian Cup by 2-1. Only Itthad from Alexandria, another famous team from the topflight, managed to eliminate the brave boys from the Red Sea in the 3rd round by the narrowest of margins: 1-0. El Gouna had trashed Nil Sohaq in the first round with a 5-1 victory.

2005/2006

The 2005/2006 Cup campaign took off with a fine 1-0 over El Menia on 15 January 2006 at the home ground. El Gouna FC met League club Itthad from Alexandria on 27 May 2006 at 16.00 hrs in the first round proper of the Egyptian Cup on their home soil only only to lose 2-3 after extra time.