By: Ahmed Youssef
Football has long been one of the most powerful forces in popular culture. It brings communities together, bridges social divides, and, at its core, remains a global form of shared entertainment. Translating that intensity convincingly to the small screen, however, requires more than performance alone; it demands technical understanding and lived experience.
That responsibility fell to football coach Maher Mohsen, who was brought on to prepare actor Ahmed Malek for his role as a professional footballer in the Ramadan series "Sawa Sawa.' Maher developed a tailored training programme aimed at grounding Malek&rsquo;s performance in the physical and mental realities of grassroots football.
The goal, Mohsen explains, was authenticity, ensuring movement, discipline, and on-pitch behaviour reflected the daily routines of real players rather than cinematic imitation.
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Malek, widely regarded as one of the most committed actors of his generation, has built a reputation for immersive preparation. During last Ramadan&rsquo;s Awlad Al Shams, he undertook similarly demanding training to meet the physical and emotional requirements of his character, reinforcing his approach of fully inhabiting every role he takes on.
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Intensive Training Behind the Scenes
<a href="https://www.nogoumfm.net/2026/02/%d8%ae%d8%a7%d8%b5-%d9%85%d8%af%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d9%83%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%82%d8%af%d9%85-%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%87%d8%b1-%d9%85%d8%ad%d8%b3%d9%86-%d9%8a%d9%83%d8%b4%d9%81-%d9%84%d9%80%d9%86%d8%ac/">Nogoum FM</a> went behind the scenes with football coach Maher Mohsen to explore Ahmed Malek&rsquo;s preparation for his role in "Sawa Sawa" and the intensive training that helped bring the character to life.
In an interview with Nogoum FM&rsquo;s website, Mohsen explained that the preparation process required significant time and focus, particularly to achieve the physical balance and movement needed to convincingly portray a footballer on screen. The task was made more challenging by the fact that Malek had appeared as a boxer in last Ramadan&rsquo;s series, a role that demands a markedly different physical posture and rhythm.
As part of the training, Mohsen assessed Malek&rsquo;s natural tendencies on the pitch, including determining which foot he was most comfortable using. The decision was ultimately made for Malek to play right-footed.
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Preparing a Grassroots Footballer
Mohsen said the programme extended beyond technical drills and fitness work to include the psychological dimensions of the character. The aim was not to create the image of a polished professional athlete, but rather to reflect the realities of a grassroots footballer.
Attention was paid to subtle details such as how the character walks, runs and carries himself on the pitch, ensuring his movements felt natural and rooted in everyday football culture.
Despite Malek&rsquo;s athletic background, Mohsen noted that his previous boxing role made the transition more demanding. Boxing, he explained, relies heavily on balance through the heels, while football requires constant movement on the balls of the feet, as well as agility and flexibility.
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A Different Portrayal of Football on Screen
Mohsen confirmed that he was present throughout filming to supervise the execution of the football scenes. He suggested audiences may be surprised by what they see, stressing the team&rsquo;s determination to present a depiction of grassroots football that differs from previous portrayals in cinema and television.
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A Journey Into Sawa Sawa
In "Sawa Sawa," Ahmed Malek plays Ibrahim, a young man navigating the pressures and contradictions of life in working-class neighbourhoods. Set against the backdrop of football, the series explores personal struggle, ambition, and the pursuit of dreams, both his own and those of his partner, Ahlam.
Played by Huda El Mufti, Ahlam becomes caught in a dangerous grey area between two men who represent opposing worlds: one driven by genuine love and devotion, the other by power and control.
"Sawa Sawa" stars Ahmed Malek, Huda El Mufti, Sherif Desouky, Ahmed Abdelhamid, and Noha Abdeen. The series is written by Mohab Tarek and directed by Essam Abdelhamid.
Photo Credit: Coach Maher Mohsen's official page&nbsp;

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