Egyptian handball player Hamza Samy, winner of the 2026 African U-19 Championship and popularly known as “Simba” after the African lion, has embarked on a new chapter in his career by joining German club TVB Stuttgart from the prestigious Egyptian club Al Ahly at the age of 17. This move represents an opportunity for the African talent to gain experience that combines athletic development with continuing his education in Germany, while working towards his ambition of reaching the professional level.
Simba, who was born in 2008, is set to compete with Stuttgart’s U-19 team and reserve team, while also training with the first team. This pathway will allow him to gain experience, progress through different levels of competition, adapt to the demands of German handball, and demonstrate his abilities through performance and commitment.
Simba spent more than ten years in Al Ahly’s youth academy, progressing through its various age-group teams and winning more than 20 titles across different youth competitions. These years played a significant role in developing his technical and physical abilities, while instilling discipline and a competitive spirit, providing him with a solid foundation for his new experience.
During his time at Al Ahly, Simba also had the opportunity to train with the first team under head coach David Davis. This gave him valuable firsthand experience in a high-level training environment, exposure to experienced players, and a better understanding of the demands of competing at senior level, helping prepare him for more challenging competitions.
At the international level, Simba has represented Egypt in various youth age groups and contributed to winning the bronze medal at the U-17 Mediterranean Handball Championship in Tunisia, the silver medal at the 2025 U-17 World Championship in Morocco, and the gold medal at the African U-19 Championship in Côte d’Ivoire in September 2026. These international appearances have given him valuable experience competing against different playing styles and at both continental and global levels.
Standing at 1.92 metres tall, Simba is a left-handed player whose primary position is right back, although he is capable of performing various attacking and defensive roles. These attributes give him tactical versatility, which he aims to further develop during his time in Stuttgart, where Egyptian international goalkeeper Mohamed Essam El-Tayar also plays.
Alongside his sporting career, Simba places great importance on continuing his education in Germany, with the aim of building an academic foundation that will support his future. He views this transfer as the beginning of a new phase of learning, hard work, and adaptation, as well as an opportunity to develop his abilities both on and off the court while benefiting from training and competing in a new sporting environment.
Hamza Samy, known as Simba, is determined to build on the years of development he spent at Al Ahly and the experience he gained representing Egypt, with the aim of making a positive contribution to Stuttgart, representing African sport with distinction, earning the confidence of the coaching staff, and leaving his mark on the club. He arrives with a clear ambition to continue improving, fulfil his dream of becoming a professional handball player, and represent the African continent with pride.
