The Quiet American
Soccer, perhaps more than any other sport, has the power to unite and galvanise nations – engendering a spirit of fighting for a common cause. Dave LaMattina and Chad N Walker’s engaging documentary We Must Go taps into this spirit as it follows American coach Bob Bradley’s attempts to guide Egypt through qualification to the 2014 Brazil World Cup as the fires of revolution erupt throughout the country. The serious, sober Bradley is a pioneer in American coaching terms – blazing a trail where no US soccer coach had previously ventured. The somewhat anti-American location of Egypt was always expected to be a challenge, but as the country descends into chaos and violence, the former US national team coach is faced with attempting to lead the football team to World Cup glory, while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with an oppressed and aggrieved populace. Bradley’s tenure in the Egypt manager’s role would coincide with some of the most bloody violence and revolt in Egypt’s recent history.
“The serious, sober Bradley is a pioneer in American coaching terms – blazing a trail where no US soccer coach had previously ventured.”
Spring and fall
After the 2011 Egyptian revolution and the toppling of Hosni Mubarak, the country was bitterly split on the way forward. The filmmakers do an admirable job of pulling together a number of different strands, including the role of the football Ultras in pushing the revolt on the streets, the various political machinations in a country riven with division, the plight of families affected by the resulting violence and the role of Bradley, the quiet American amid the chaos.
And it is Bradley’s dignity that shines through. When 72 fans are killed in riots at Port Said Stadium after violence that appeared to have been orchestrated – or at the very least authorised – by the military, Bradley is shown mingling with crowds at the protests that followed.
But this is not simply a political film. Bradley is tasked with leading a talented – but often under-performing – nation to its first World Cup since 1990. And remarkably despite the tragedy that had beset the country,
Bradley’s team swept through their qualification group unbeaten. It was a feat largely helped by the team’s two star players: Egypt’s answer to Zidane, Mohamed Aboutrika and the Egyptian Messi, Mohamed Salah.
Bob Bradley: Pic by Mohan, Doha Stadium Plus Qatar
“Remarkably despite the tragedy that had beset the country, Bradley’s team swept through their qualification group unbeaten. It was a feat largely helped by the team’s two star players: Egypt’s answer to Zidane, Mohamed Aboutrika and the Egyptian Messi, Mohamed Salah. ”
Destination known
As any viewer of last year’s World Cup knows – spoiler alert – Egypt weren’t in Brazil. This knowledge might take some of the edge off the dramatic tension of the film, as does the rather insipid Sigur Rós-esque soundtrack, but all-in-all the film tells an important story of overcoming adversity with dignity and how soccer can point the way towards a brighter future. Above all this is a film about heroes. There is Mohamed Aboutrika, an icon of North African football and a man that everybody – including Bradley – seems in awe of. There is Karim Khouzam, a university student killed in Port Said Stadium whose face appears graffitied across the streets of Cairo in memoriam. And Karim’s sister Yasmine, who seeks to honour her brother by fighting for a fairer society. But the main hero is Bradley, the proud and loyal coach who stood alongside his adopted countrymen in times of tragedy and led them to the brink of World Cup glory.
“The film tells an important story of overcoming adversity with dignity and how soccer can point the way towards a brighter future”
This article original appeared in issue one of ELEVEN
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Since We Must Go was released in 2014, Bob Bradley's managerial journey has taken him to Stabæk Fotball in Norway, Le Havre in France before an ill-fated spell in the English Premier League with Swansea. Bradley lasted only 85 days and 11 games at the Welsh side. In July 2017, Bradley took charge of Los Angeles FC in their inaugural season in MLS. They currently sit second in the Western Conference. Mohamed Aboutrika finished his football career in 2014 and has been accused of financing the Muslim Brotherhood by the Egyptian State - recently being placed back on Egypt’s terrorism list along with more than 1,500 other names by Cairo Criminal Court.
Dave LaMattina and Chad N. Walker's next documentary La Gran Madre will follow Nora Sandigo, legal guardian to over 2000 US-citizen children of undocumented immigrants, as she sacrifices everything to keep American-born children with their undocumented parents.
I wonder whatever happened to Mohamed Salah?