Latest news with #Diamonds
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Mahmoud El-Esseily releases sun-soaked summer album
Mahmoud El-Esseily released songs from his latest album, titled Esseily Summer 2025, on Tuesday, 29 July, celebrating the sunny season. A few songs in the album were composed by El-Esseily, including Eish? (What?), Almaz (Diamonds) to lyrics by Felpino, and Salam Salam to lyrics by Ali Fathallah. Meanwhile, Dalma Dalma (Dark Dark) is penned by Tamer Hussein to music by Mohamed Yehia. The songs Habibi Wenta Gamby (My Love, When You're Beside Me) and Baheb Elly Yehabak (I Love Who Loves You) are composed by Aziz El-Shafei to lyrics by Menna El-Kiey. The new songs continue El-Esseily's distinctive style of presenting works that tackle love and introspection, peace, and letting go. Besides being skilled in soulful or sentimental melodic textures, he balances the mood with occasional pop-style playful modern sensibility. The new summer album comes three weeks after the singer's last single, the upbeat-vibe song Tarabatatee, released on 8 July. It also follows the album Zaalan Menny Ya Sheta Leh? (Why Are You Upset with Me, Winter?) released in January. El-Esseily Born in 1982, El-Esseily's dedication to music started at a young age. He began taking piano lessons at the age of four. He formed his first band while studying Integrated Marketing Communication at the American University in Cairo, where he participated in every competition showcasing student talents. The university released a CD with the students' songs, which included El-Esseily's Khayef Men Bokra (I Am Afraid of Tomorrow). El-Esseily was also an opening act for Amr Diab's concert at the university. In 2002, his popularity began to grow, as he kept opening concerts for other well-known singers, including Elissa. In 2004, he released his first album, Rayeh Ala Fein? (Where Are You Going?), followed by several other highly successful albums, including Meen Ana (Who Am I), Tool Manty Ganby (As Long As You Are Next To Me), and Donia Gedida (New World). Faithful to the light pop genre, El-Esseily touches the hearts of his fans with songs that discuss happiness and the pains of romantic relationships. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Motherwell goalkeeper a target for Airdrie ahead of season opener
The Diamonds are looking to strengthen between the sticks Airdrieonians are targeting the signing of Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly on loan. Lanarkshire Live Sport understands the Fir Park shot-stopper, who was handed his first team debut for the Steelmen earlier this month in a 2-1 win over Peterhead in the Premier Sports Cup, is being pursued by the Diamonds ahead of Saturday's Championship opener at home to Ross County. Rhys McCabe's side are currently light in the goalkeeping department with goalie coach David Hutton named on the bench for Saturday's cup defeat to Alloa, while 20-year-old Cade Melrose started between the sticks. Hutton has been a substitute in all of the club's cup matches, with Melrose taking the gloves. So the Diamonds are keen to strengthen in that department and the answer could lie with Connelly, who played regularly on loan at East Kilbride last season on their way to the Lowland League title and promotion to League Two. Connelly - who signed a new one year deal with Motherwell last month - had been expected to return to Kilby this season, but an injury to Fir Park No.1 Aston Oxborough in pre-season meant the Steelmen held on to their youth academy product for their Premier Sports Cup games, which concluded last midweek. However, with Oxborough returning in Friday night's friendly against Hertha Berlin off the bench and second choice Calum Ward starting that game ahead of Saturday's Premiership opener with Rangers, it is understood 22-year-old Connelly could be looking to go out on loan again. Connelly recently said in an interview with Motherwell's club media: 'The loans have been absolutely pivotal. 'I've always said I'd rather go out and play instead of just being a number two or a three. The excitement of playing games is the most important thing and especially getting the experience. 'My first loan at Gretna, which was brilliant, it was only a short period I was there before I got the facial injury, it was so benefical. What a place it is, great place to start. Moving to Stranraer, that was cut short but East Kilbride was so good. 'That's where I played the majority of my games, I think I played just under 50 games there last year. I've been there twice and had the chance to go back there which was a no brainer. 'Getting those games and experience is vital. It moulds you and gets you one step closer to playing first-team football here.'
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie boss: New striker a priority as side prepare for Ross County without recognised centre forward
The Diamonds host Ross County on Saturday in the Championship curtain-raiser but are light up top Rhys McCabe admits Airdrie priority is bringing in a new striker as the Diamonds prepare for Saturday's Championship opener at home to Ross County without a recognised striker. The player-boss watched his side crash out of the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday to League One Alloa Athletic, with the Wasps pouncing on Sean McGinty's error to grab a 3-2 victory in the 89th minute at New Broomfield. Airdrie played without a striker as midfielders Chris Mochrie, Lewis McGrattan and Dylan Williams all had a shot at playing through the middle over the 90 minutes. Last season's star striker Ben Wilson sealed a summer switch to Welsh side The New Saints and the club are yet to replace him, while former Aberdeen frontman Aaron Reid is out injured. The club are also still coming to terms with long-term club captain and creative force Adam Frizzell leaving for Derry City last month. So McCabe is well aware of his side's shortcoming ahead of the Staggies visiting. He said: "We are not the thickest of squads and we've got a lot of kids on the bench who are still in a development phase, where they aren't ready or shouldn't be ready to be in the first team at this moment in time, but they have to be because of numbers. We've had to include them more than we'd planned. "So we need to look and get a couple of additions in to help the boys out in key areas of the pitch. "A striker has been our priority for a number of weeks because we've lost our source of goals but what some people might forget as well is we lost our captain, in Adam Frizzell. "Frizz has been a big, big part of how we've played over the last few years. His creativity and the way he leads by example on the pitch is a big miss. "To lose your source of goals as well - and Aaron Reid is still out injured and won't be back until the end of September - is tough. "We are playing Mochrie through the middle or Euan Henderson and we are trying to play a system that allows us to not kill somebody by playing them out of position. "But, right now, we don't have a recognised striker in the squad, which is an area we are trying to fill. "We need to make sure it is the right one and we are not jumping in too quickly to get somebody that ends up being a waste of a number in the squad. "They have to add value and challenge whoever is in the squad. When Aaron Reid comes back or when the likes of Mochrie or Hendo are playing there, there should be competition. We shouldn't just be sticking someone there because we've got nobody else. "I don't think we are a million miles away from being set and ready for the season. "We are certainly short in a couple of areas but we aren't making excuses. "We've gone and beaten Dundee, we won every game up until this one so we can't use that as an excuse just because we've lost a game."
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie defeat to Alloa a reality check for Ross County clash, says Dean McMaster
The Diamonds went down to the Wasps in a five-goal cup thriller Airdrie midfielder Dean McMaster says their defeat to League One Alloa will serve as a 'reality check' ahead of Saturday's Championship opener against Ross County. The Diamonds were defeated 3-2 by the Sons on Saturday, having led 2-1 with an hour gone. Rhys McCabe's men topped their Premier Sports Cup group with a 100 per cent record going into the winner-takes-all clash with the Wasps, but errors from Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a penalty shortly after Airdrie had taken the lead and then McGinty gifted the ball to Steven Buchanan in the 89th minute and the striker made Airdrie pay with his late winner. It means Airdrie miss out on qualifying as one of the three best runners-up on goals scored and McMaster - who is on the comeback trail after missing pre-season through injury - says that should serve as a warning ahead of the Staggies visiting on league duty. The 22-year-old, who is the club's vice-captain, said: "The goals are all individual mistakes. Alloa haven't really earned the goals, but that happens. "It was disappointing to go in 1-0 down at half-time. I think the first 10-15 minutes of the second half, we started really well and obviously get the two goals. After that, I don't know why, but we dropped off and we let them come back into the game when they never should have been in the game. "I think Alloa defended most of the game in their 18-yard box and we should never let them come into the game, especially with how dominant we are at home. "It is a reality check for us to show that it won't be plain sailing, winning every week. We need to get back to our best and make sure we win this coming Saturday. "It is so disappointing because the boys have put in so much hard work. Obviously, I have been in the stand for two of them but today was just one of those days where it wasn't good enough, and we need to correct that. McMaster made his comeback in Wednesday night's 2-1 win at Montrose and played the first half of Saturday's defeat, so he is delighted to be building up his fitness in time for the Championship campaign. He added: "It is good to be back on the park and get some minutes in the legs. I missed the whole of pre-season, so it is good to get the minutes. "As you could probably see, I am a wee bit rusty and I am not at my full fitness. I thought we started the game quite well, playing on the front foot with some nice passages of play, but we just didn't penetrate through to get that goal or those forward runs."
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Airdrie 'shot themselves in the foot' in Alloa defeat, says gutted gaffer Rhys McCabe
The Championship side missed out on the last 16 in agonising fashion to their League One counterparts Frustrated Airdrie boss Rhys McCabe admits they only have themselves to blame for being knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup by League One Alloa. The Diamonds had fought back from a first-half header from Owen Foster in their winner-takes-all clash at the top of Group C to lead 2-1 after an hour at New Broomfield. But a stunning striker from skipper Aidan Wilson and a Euan Henderson penalty for the Championship side counted for nothing as two errors from summer signing Sean McGinty gifted the Wasps a last-gasp win that sent them through as group winners. The former Hamilton Accies defender gave away a penalty just five minutes after Airdrie had taken the lead, fouling Kurtis Roberts in the box before Scott Taggart converted the spot-kick after 65 minutes. And in the 89th minute, McGinty gave the ball away to Steven Buchanan with a loose pass just inside the visitors' half and the Wasps striker punished Airdrie by charging forward and unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner. It means Airdrie miss out on a place in the last 16 as one of the three best runners-up due to them having scored fewer goals than the current third-placed team, Dunfermline. And gutted McCabe said: "We've had a wee chat in the dressing room and we know that we shot ourselves in the foot today. "But I don't want to take anything away from Alloa. They've had a great campaign, four wins out of four. They had a solid game plan but the way that we gifted them a way back into the game when we go 2-1 up is something that shouldn't be happening. "Sean is experienced enough to know that five minutes after you score, you don't take unnecessary risks. It was one of those ones where he has mistimed it. He thinks he can get the ball, but the boy nips in front of him and gets the ball. "But that was easily avoidable and that is the frustrating bit. "At the final goal, he tries to play in somebody [Dylan Williams] short but he turns his back at the wrong time and it is just a wee bit of miscommunication there. "Overall, we controlled a lot of the ball, we were decent in spells, but we didn't test their goalkeeper enough for all the possession we had. "I think we spent a lot of time in their half but we need to be more effective. "Of course I am disappointed. It's raw and I'm emotional after the game, but it has been a positive start [aside from this result]." The Diamonds had two goals ruled out in the first-half by referee Sean Murdoch, with Aidan Wilson and Chris Mochrie seeing their efforts chalked off for offside and handball in the build-up to their strikes. Asked what he made of the decisions, McCabe added: "I don't know, to be honest. I don't ask the referees anymore. "If he has given offside, sound, he's given offside. I've got no clue what they were ruled out for." Airdrie now look to their Championship opener next Saturday when they play host to Ross County.
