Interview with Adil Chihi
(www.AtlasLions.eu/8-11-2006) Here we present to you an exclusive interview with Moroccan starlet and FC Cologne striker Adil Chihi.
Questions about Adil Chihi and FC Cologne....
1.Please tell us who is Adil Chihi and where and how did you start your football career?
-Im 18 years old, I started playing football at age of 7 and I was playing for the youth team of FC Tannenhof. Afterwards I moved to Fortuna Dusseldorf and now I playing for FC Cologne for two years now.
2. Do you often visit Morocco when you are on holidays and where in Morocco are you from?
-Very often, I love my country and I visit very often my home in Temara and in my last visit I had been in Tangier and Casablanca.
It was wonderfull.
3. Who is your role model on and off pitch, and do you have any Moroccan favourite player?
-My favourite is Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry. I can say that some heros of the team of Morocco 1986 like Timoumi, Merry, Zaki and Bouderbala were good players. Same as Naybet and Hadji.
4. FC Cologne is currently laying just outside the promotion positions. What ambitions does the team have and what are your personal ambitions this season?
-We want to be in 1. Bundesliga and we do everything to make this happen.
5. You have been compared a lot with former Cologne player Lucas Podolski. Do you feel pressure to succeed him?
-No, I feel like I felt before. I am Adil Chihi and not Lukas Podolski. I will do the best for my career. if somebody says and said that we are very similar is not important to me.
6. Do you prefer to play as a deep striker or as a left winger?
-It does not matter, however my coach gives the chance to play, that way I get even more experiences. This is what I need to progress.
About Adil Chihi’s international status.....
8. You made your international breakthrough during the U-20 World cup last year for Morocco. How did you feel to represent Morocco during the tournament in front of big crowds?
-It was a dream for me, my Agent Norden Hbib organized all with Jamal Fathi, and then I opened my eyes and I found myself in a World Championship. It was a big dream.
9. Since then you have been promoted to the Olympic team under the same manager, Jamal Fathi. How is your relationship with Fathi and how is he as a manager?
-Jamal Fathi is very nice person and has much experience in this area of football.
He is a very good coach, he knows how to pick good talent. I think he will be a successful coach in Morocco.
10. You had ideas to represent Germany instead of Morocco. What were your reasons behind that decision?
-Sorry, we discussed this too much and I am happy it ended this way, now I want to represent my home country.
11. You have now re-confirmed your decision to represent Morocco. Is the A-team something that you think of and have you had any talks with the coach M’hmed Fakhir?
-I want represent Morocco and this is the main reason, I never had a talk with Mr. Fakhir, I will be very happy if he will give me a call.
The future.....
12. Your success this season has attracked interest many other clubs. German as well as English top clubs have been linked with you. Do you see yourself moving away from Cologne soon?
-I want to develop myself here at FC Cologne. In Cologne here people are wonderful, I have a great President Wolfgang Overath, good manager Michael Meier, good Coach and staff and fantastic fans.
12.Which league would you play in concerning your style of play and which is your favourite team?
-You know, I always dreamed to play in Spain, England and Italy. My favourite team is FC Barcelona.
13.Any last words for the visitors of www.atlaslions.eu ?
-I want to say hello to all visitors of this nice site of yours, and I also want to see more
young talented Moroccan players. And I wish that we can get our ticket for World Cup 2010 in Africa.
We the crew at www.AtlasLions.eu wishes you the best for the future with Cologne and Morocco.
