Testimonials are never that well attended these days anyway, especially Brighton ones. I may be wrong but I thought they were to give a player who was packing the game in a final payday in the era of lower paid player, especially in the lower divisions. Bit of an anachronism now given player wages.
He didn't have to go did he? Wants to play and has a nice new long term contract. I wouldn't have expected a player like El Abd to settle for being at best a bench player barring injuries to the first choice just so he could have a testimonial.