PLAYING for a South Premier League team on the south coast is not where one expects to see two Athens Olympians.

But Hampshire/ Surrey Regional club Hamble pulled off an unlikely coup this season by recruiting two members of the Egyptian team which made Great Britain struggle at the Olympics before the Brits managed a 3-1 win, their only success at the group stage.

Wael Badawi, who played for Egypt at the Barcelona Olympics, has lived in the Southampton area for some years and played for the city's club before taking over as coach to Hamble's 1st XI last season.

It was he who persuaded his compatriots to join Hamble and the duo made an immediate impact when they made their debut at the end of October.

Their full names are Ahmed Ezz El-Din Metwally Mohamed and Mohamed Gamal Abd El-Naser Mohamed - so it is not surprising that they are known by their nicknames Ezz and Hamoza, respectively.

Hamoza is a striker while Ezz plays right midfield.

In Athens, Hamoza was Egypt's penalty corner stopper and Ezz a powerful corner striker.

Before their arrival, Hamble had gained seven points from four games but have since won six and drawn one of their last eight games.

Ezz has been on target in every match, bagging 11 goals, including a hat-trick at Old Cranleighans, and is fast catching up teammate Steve Barber, the Regional League's leading marksman, who has 20 strikes.

Hamoza has scored six after a treble against Reigate Priory.

A week into the restart, Hamble are in third place - one position higher than they achieved last term.

Their 3-2 defeat by leaders and near neighbours Trojans in week nine probably ended any real hopes of automatic promotion but, only four points adrift of Saturday's opponents Epsom, they are still contenders to be runners-up and earn a play-off place.

Hamble's first team manager Chris Marsh said of the newcomers' impact: "They've helped to bring a real buzz to the club and we get a large crowd at our home games. They're wonderfully talented with high skill levels and are helping to raise the standard of hockey at the club."

Ezz and Hamoza are assisting on training nights and at coaching sessions for the club's juniors and have also helped at county and divisional training sessions.

Marsh said: "Since their arrival the first team squad is training harder and with greater commitment."

But he stressed: "It was important that they play our style of hockey and we don't treat them any differently from the other players. They are really nice lads and have fitted in well at the club."

Marsh hopes they will either return next season or encourage other national team colleagues to come to Hamble.