What is sock ball? How the game played on small streets got big
The first type of football played by many in Egypt, sock ball has become a show of celebration during Ramadan in the country
Sock ball was long considered a poor man’s game for Egyptian football lovers, but more recently it has become a show of celebration during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan and takes over the streets.
Originally played with some old socks or scraps crammed inside each other to form a ball, sock ball is likely to have been the first football played by both Egypt’s massive football stars and the fans who root for them.
“The sock ball in Alexandria is so special, it has its own enjoyment, and honestly, not just anyone can play sock ball,” said Ahmed Youssef, a sock player in the coastal city of Alexandria.
Loyal fan Ibrahim Abu Al Wafa described it as a game of skill and strategy, with sock ball requiring a great deal of talent from players who learn to control a small ball in tight spaces on narrow streets to score against their rivals.
“[Sock ball] has its enjoyment and a wide popularity across Alexandria,” he said of the game he has been in love with since the 1960s.
No expensive ball is needed and there is no need for a club to play in. Everyone in the neighbourhood can join in for a game of sock ball in the street.