• Mostafa Mahmoud, 68, stitches a football at his shop in Cairo, Egypt. All photos: Reuters
    Mostafa Mahmoud, 68, stitches a football at his shop in Cairo, Egypt. All photos: Reuters
  • A customer checks a football fixed by Mr Mahmoud
    A customer checks a football fixed by Mr Mahmoud
  • Mr Mahmoud has made and mended footballs for about 50 years
    Mr Mahmoud has made and mended footballs for about 50 years
  • He followed in the footsteps of his father, who made the footballs from scratch
    He followed in the footsteps of his father, who made the footballs from scratch
  • Cheap imports from China forced Mr Mahmoud to shift from the manufacture of footballs to mending them
    Cheap imports from China forced Mr Mahmoud to shift from the manufacture of footballs to mending them
  • Mr Mahmoud has worked with several Egyptian clubs, including Al Ahly and Zamalek, providing his services at their grounds
    Mr Mahmoud has worked with several Egyptian clubs, including Al Ahly and Zamalek, providing his services at their grounds
  • Due to health concerns, he now performs his trade from his shop only
    Due to health concerns, he now performs his trade from his shop only
  • Mr Mahmoud repairs a ball at his shop
    Mr Mahmoud repairs a ball at his shop
  • Football is a sport loved by millions of Egyptians, who are keenly following the action at the World Cup in Qatar
    Football is a sport loved by millions of Egyptians, who are keenly following the action at the World Cup in Qatar

Egyptian man who has been repairing footballs for more than 50 years - in pictures


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Updated: June 14, 2023, 9:54 AM