Interview with Mohamed Amsif

(www.AtlasLions.eu/30Mar2007) Here is an exclusive interview with Moroccan youngster and promising goalkeeper of Schalke 04, Mohamed Amsif.

Q: Mohamed Amsif please tell us a bit about yourself.

MA: I was born on 7 Feb.1989 in Dusseldorf as son to Moroccan immigrants.

Q: For which teams have you played so far?

MA: My first club was TuRu 1880 Dusseldorf, there I played from "Bambini" level till "D-youth", and from the "D-youth" till "C-youth" I played for DSV 04 Dusseldorf and at "B2-youth" level I played for Wuppertaler SV Borussia and then from the "B1-youth" till now I have been playing with Schalke 04.

Q: How does it feel to play for a team such as Schalke 04 ?

MA: To play at Schalke 04 means a lot to me, it is like winning the jackpot. To play for this traditional club is for me like a dream come true.

Q: Have you been playing as goalkeeper from the start or were you a field player in the youth?

MA: I started playing as goalkeeper from the "F-youth" level

Q: What was the reason you became a goalkeeper?

MA: It was my coach at that time. He found that with my reflexes and height, I would better perform as goalkeeper.

Q: How do you see your chances to get a professional contract at Schalke 04?

MA: I want to answer you the question on basis of religion: "Everything is in Allah's hands"

Q: What are your ambitions with the U-19 team of Schalke this season?

MA: My first goal with the U-19 is to play nice and attractive football. When we reach this goal, we would automatically succeed and defend the title.

Q: From which town in Morocco are you and your parents?

MA: We are from Nador

Q: How strong are your ties with Morocco?

MA: I have strong ties with Morocco. Many relatives and friends still live there.

Q: How often do you travel to Morocco?

MA: On a regular basis, once in a year

Q: Do you watch/follow the Moroccan National Team?

MA: Yes, with lots of interest.

Q: Who is your favourite player from the National Team at the moment?

MA: From the actual National Team, I have no one as favourite player.

Q: Did you watch/follow the success of the Moroccan U-20 at the World Youth Championship in Holland 2005?

MA: Yes, I did. The Junior team did very well in the Netherlands.

Q: We were informed, that you were called up for a training camp with the Moroccan Olympic Team in France, were you there with the Team?

MA: Yes, I was there.

Q: How was that experience?

MA: It was new and a positive experience to meet other Moroccan Players from European leagues.

Q: You played last year some friendles with the German U-18 National Team, how would you react if you were called up by the Moroccan Olympic Team?

MA: First of all, it would be a very big hounor for me, when the Olympic Team calls me up. I let everything come over me.

Q: Have you made your final choice for which country you would play in the future?

MA: No.

Q: Which factors are important for this choice?

MA: My health, my team Schalke 04 and my ambitions.

Q: Who are your role models?

MA: Dida and Oliver Kahn.

Q: Which is your favourite club?

MA: FC Schalke 04 and AC Milan

Q: What do you want to tell the Moroccan fans and the visitors of our site www.TheAtlasLions.com ?

MA: I would like to send cordial greetings to all visitors of www.TheAtlasLions.com.

Assalam aleikum wa rahmatullah!

And we thank Mohamed Amsif for his time and for answering the questions and we thank his club Schalke 04 who made this interview possible.