VOA常速英语2008年-Egyptians Ecstatic after Africa Cup Victory

By Aya Batrawy
Cairo
11 February 2008

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians staged a noisy celebration across the country following their soccer team's one-zero victory over Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations finals. Aya Batrawy has more for VOA from Cairo.  
 
The Pharaohs won the African Cup finals for a record sixth time. The defending champions, who played Cameroon in Ghana Sunday evening, had control over the ball most of the game, beating out the Indomitable Lions with the only goal of the match 61 minutes into the game.

The bustling¹ streets of Cairo were nearly empty as people sat glued to their television sets at home and at cafes, rooting for their national team.

But the silence changed to excitement and noisy celebration after Egypt scored the winning goal. Crowds in cafes around the country were cheering Masr, Masr… Arabic for Egypt, Egypt.

"Masr, Masr."

To this woman, who gives her name as Eman, the victory gives Egyptians something to cheer about at a time of economic hardship.

"People are mostly depressed² nowadays so anything that can draw a smile on their face is excellent," Eman said.

Soccer fan Hany Hassan the win is not just about a soccer game, but about going into the streets and letting loose in a country where opposition³ political rallies and demonstrations⁴ are quickly dispersed⁵ by Egyptian state security. Hassan said this is one of the few times when Egyptian security does not stop people from taking to the streets.

"All the Egyptian society, they wouldn't dare to have a political revolution but they would definitely have a soccer revolution," Hassan said. "Nobody can stop them from having fun or going across any red lines on the streets. It's the best time ever."

He says soccer in Egypt is a sport enjoyed by the rich and poor alike and a victory  helps unite the country more than anything else.

"It is like a country's spirit where everyone enjoys it and it's the only time when everyone is partying on the streets together," Hassan said. "They don't care who, where or when."

The streets were filled with cars honking⁶ their horns and youth dressed from head to toe in Egypt's national red, white and black colors.

Porter Mohamed Mahmoud said at times like these Egyptians have not only a strong sense Arab and Muslim heritage, but also of being part of Africa.

He says, "We are an Arab country, but also an African country. Of course we are part of Africa, said Mahmoud."

To the hundreds of thousands of people in the streets across the country,  the victorious⁷ Pharaos put Egypt on the world map and made the country proud.

1 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

2 depressed   

adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的

参考例句：

• When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
• His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

6 honking   

v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cars zoomed helter-skelter, honking belligerently. 大街上来往车辆穿梭不停，喇叭声刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Flocks of honking geese flew past. 雁群嗷嗷地飞过。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。