In less than one week Hammarby will travel to U.S. and Los Angeles for a training camp at the Home Depot Center. This is not the first time Hammarby travel to Los Angeles, in fact this is the third year in a row, and the camps are much appreciated by both the players and the staff. The Swedish pre-season is long and tiresome, and the U.S. camp is seen as a vacation, even though the training is quite rigorous. Two training matches are planned against "very good opposition". Personally I have high hopes for a match against Los Angeles Galaxy, with superstar David Beckham. However, Hammarby will not meet a national team as they have done previous years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The whole Rami Shaaban story has now taken an absurd turn. Apparently, Hammarby and Rami has agreed on a contract proposal lasting three years. All details have been approved by both sides. The only thing that remains now is to buy Shaaban from Fredrikstad FK, his current club. The Norwegians have turned down three offers from Hammarby, claiming that the Swedish national goalkeeper is worth more money. The whole situation is absurd since Shaaban is lost for Fredrikstad no matter what. In November Shaaban's contract will end, and at that point he will move to another club without having to be bought. In other words, either Fredrikstad take the money now, or the wait and get nothing. Hammarby are trying to stay cool and wait for Fredrikstad to accept, but there's the problem that Hammarby really need a permanent solution to the goalkeeper position. Rami Shaaban is that man, the only question is: Will he arrive before the season start?
