At 31-year’s of age, team captain Hamdy Elsafy is considered one of the most experienced players in the current Egyptian team having started his Volleyball career 20 years ago in 1983 with the Al-Ahly club in Cairo.

Through his talented skills he was marked for international honours early on and played his first international match for Egypt at the age of only 17. In the same year (1990), the wing spiker was called up to the national men’s team and has since been an integral member of the squad.

In his long and illustrious career Elsafy has seen Egypt qualify twice for the World Championship in Japan 1998 and Argentina 2002, twice to the World Cup in 1995 and 2003 as well as the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000. He also won 20 championship titles with his club Al-Ahly including African, Arab and local competitions. The 2002/2003 season was historical for the Egyptian star as he won the local league, cup and Super cup, then the Arab Cup of Clubs' Champions and African Cup of Clubs' Championship in another inspirational performance.