Ekramy:"Can’t wait to start my European career at Feyenoord"

Ekramy:"Can’t wait to start my European career at Feyenoord"

Date: 2-6-2005
Wrote: EP's reporter Omar Sherin

EXCLUSIVE: Sherif Ekramy is getting ready to start what seems to be a very promising career. He is tipped for being the most talented Egyptian goalkeeper in years.

Sherif in action in the last Youth World Cup

He showcased his talents in the last U20 youth World Cup held in Emirates and attracted attention from France, England and Holland.

Recently he was officially added to the books of the mighty red and whites of Rotterdam, Feyenoord. He is joining another talented Egyptian at the Kuip and this will help him integrate even faster.

Egyptianplayers.com got in touch with the young shot stopper and he revealed how he looks forward to his Euro journey.

EP: Congratulations on officially being a Feyenoord player.

EKRAMY: Thanks alot, it is a dream coming true and I can’t wait to start my European career at such a big side.

EP: Many in Holland are wondering who is Sherif Ekramy?

EKRAMY: It’s quite understandable that they don’t know me, because I didn’t even play for my club’s first team yet, and my performances on the national level are all with the youth national teams. But answering their question I am 20 years old, played for Ahly since I was 10 and because Ahly is the best team in Africa and in Egypt I was trained by the best and was raised on winning and raising trophies.

I represented Egypt on the youth level years ago and became the number one keeper in all the sides I played for except that I was unlucky with my club career as I had the national team number one keeper ahead of me in the picking order so had to leave because I love playing regularly and my age shouldn’t be the only reason keeping me on the side lines.

EP: All your coaches agreed that you are a talented player by definition and that you will become one of the world’s best in the next 5 years. They even compared you with Buffon the great Italian keeper after your brilliant performances in the U20 world cup and the tournaments that followed. Does the fact that your father was the best keeper in Africa back in the 70th has to do something with all that?

EKRAMY: In fact my last name was always a source of pressure; I loved watching my dad and can’t remember that I wanted anything but to be a goalkeeper, but I always had to invest double the effort as the other kids, double the commitment not to hear that coaches favored me because my dad happens to be the best keeper in Egypt.

EP: Feyenoord sent you an invitation for a trial. How was the whole experience?

Ekramy: The week I spent in Rotterdam increased my thirst for playing in Europe; I was delighted with the training facilities, professionalism and attention they gave me. They told me that they have been watching me for a year or so and they think that I am a talented player and want to give me a chance at the club. I loved the city and I fell in love with the fans after just ten minutes into a game that I attended there, I sat between the fans and couldn’t stop admiring their passion for Feyenoord and that made me determined that I must come here again and be a part of this team.

EP: are you prepared to start a whole new life in a new country, Hossam Ghaly told us that you won’t be staying with him in his apartment?

Ekramy: I spoke a lot with Ghaly who told me that the first year is always the hardest and I know that it will be hard getting away from my country, friends, family and so on, but success has a price and I am willing to pay it. Of course the presence of Hossam at the same team and city will ease a lot of things, and I plan to get married next year so I won’t be alone for long.

EP: What is your dream in Football?

EKRAMY: I like to think of my career as several stages, I passed the first one and I am stepping into a whole new level a much higher level but I am convinced that I will prove my worth and I am already focused on winning something with the club, the club from what I saw possesses several top quality talents and winning a title or raising a trophy is very realistic and possible.

EP: how did you react to the resignation of Ruud Guillet?

EKRAMY: I was surprised and sad, because I liked him alot during my trial period, he was a legendary player and knew how to treat his players, it’s a shame that I didn’t get the chance to work for him.

EP: Thanks Ekramy .Jr. for this interview and we are hoping the best for you.

Ekramy: thanks EP and I hope to make all Egyptians proud.

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