Bob Bradley (right) marches alongside protestors with his wife Lindsay.
It's been less than five months since former U.S. coach Bob Bradley took over Egypt's national team in the wake of the country's upheaval and revolution. A revolution that now appears directly related to the stadium massacre at Port Said on Wednesday, believed to be premeditated revenge from pro-Mubarak thugs. The Egyptian Premier League has been suspended indefinitely, the country's Football Association has been disbanded by prime minister Kamal el-Ganzouri and distraught players have retired. Despite all this violence and chaos, Bradley and his wife Lindsay both marched alongside protestors expressing their anger and fighting back against the Interior Ministry that let them down instead of thinking about their own future in Egypt.
From Goal.com:
"I have not thought about this at all today," Bradley told Egyptian soccer website Stad El Ahly. "Our thoughts today are with the families of the victims. We wanted to show respect for the people who lost their lives and for the people who are most affected by this tragedy."
Bradley was attending a match between Al Ismailia and Zamalek in Cairo (that was eventually abandoned) when the attack in Port Said broke out. The next day, after taking in the disturbing scenes, the Bradleys showed their solidarity with the thousands who once again took the streets to show their outrage.
From the Washington Post:
And on Thursday he marched with Egyptians at a rally protesting violence and supporting the victims. "When a tragedy like this occurs," he said, "it's important to show respect."
"First and foremost, we think about the families," he added. "And now all sorts of questions come up because there's more to the situation. For the most part, everyone sees this as more than just fan violence at a football match."
The protests held all over Egypt and, once again, anger led to violence, resulting in 400 more injuries and two people shot dead by police in the city of Suez.
In short, Bradley is standing firm in his position as the still very new leader of a foreign country's football team, which is closely tied to the ever changing danger and confusion amidst a revolution. Lesser men would've already been on the first flight back to the States. Regardless of any quibbles with him as a coach, that's something to be admired.
Here's another interview Bradley conducted with Egyptian TV:
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