HSG Wetzlar signs goalkeeper Karim Hendawy as replacement for injured Ravensbergen
HSG Wetzlar has strengthened its goalkeeper position once again, reacting to the injury-related absence of Bart Ravensbergen (cruciate ligament rupture). The club announced on Thursday that Karim Hendawy has signed a contract until the end of the season.
Due to Ravensbergen’s severe knee injury, the Bundesliga club was forced to make another move on the transfer market. The Green-Whites secured the services of the Egyptian international Karim Hendawy until the end of the season. The 37-year-old, most recently under contract with Egyptian top club Zamalek SC, has long been a cornerstone and a key leader in Egypt’s national team.
“Two parameters were important to us in our search: quality and experience. That’s why we took the necessary time to find a very good solution for us – and we’ve succeeded. Karim brings both,” said Jasmin Camdzic, HSG Wetzlar’s sporting director. “From the past, we know how important it is for a goalkeeper signed mid-season to have maturity and calmness to handle such situations well. Karim is an internationally experienced goalkeeper who has proven his class many times in the national team at major tournaments. He will form a stable duo with Anadin Suljakovic, so that we are now well covered in this position,” Camdzic added.
On Thursday afternoon, the international clearance and playing license from the Bundesliga had already arrived for Hendawy. However, the father of three will not yet be part of the squad for Sunday’s away game in Leipzig, since his visa for entry to Germany is still pending. Both the club and the player quickly submitted all necessary documents and pushed for speedy processing. But as Egypt is currently observing a public holiday and its weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, the process could not yet be completed. HSG Wetzlar expects Hendawy to arrive in Germany early next week and then join the team.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play in the Bundesliga. I had offers from Germany in the past, but for various reasons it never worked out. That’s why I’m even happier that it has finally happened now and that I can play for HSG Wetzlar. I hope the formalities will be resolved quickly so that I can soon join the team in training,” said Hendawy, who will wear the number 66 jersey at HSG Wetzlar and meet his compatriot Ahmet Nafea there.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper spent most of his career at Egypt’s top clubs Al-Ahly SC and Zamalek SC, winning numerous titles with them. He also brings international experience from his stints at Besiktas Istanbul (2017–2019), HC Dobrogea Sud Constanța in Romania (2019–2021), and RK Eurofarm Pelister in North Macedonia (2021). With the Egyptian national team, he has played at every World Championship since 2011 and also appeared in three Olympic Games, guarding the goal for the reigning African champions.
The vacancy in Wetzlar’s goal arose after Bart Ravensbergen, who only joined this season, suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his left knee during preseason and is likely to miss the rest of the season.
Source & Photo: HSG Wetzlar
