Fawzi believes he can win titles with new club

Matt Jones - Editor 10:32 20/09/2016
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  • Mohammed Fawzi.

    Despite a trophy-laden two years with Al Ain and featuring in a star-studded team competing in the AFC Champions League, Mohamed Fawzi insists he has no regrets about joining Al Jazira.

    The 26-year-old right-back left the Garden City this summer for regular first-team football and starred on his competitive debut with a superb assist for lethal striker Ali Mabkhout as Jazira scored an impressive 3-1 win against Al Wasl on the Arabian Gulf League’s opening weekend.

    Fawzi believes the Pride of Abu Dhabi are better than a dire eighth-placed AGL finish last season suggests, and claims they will be much improved in 2016/17 and justify their tag as one of the giants of UAE football.

    “Even though Al Jazira have not been winning things for the last few seasons they are still a big name in UAE football. A very big club, just as big as Al Ain,” said Fawzi.

    “I think that we can have a very good season this year. I was very happy with the three points (against Wasl). It was a good cross. Hopefully I will keep Ali Mabkhout scoring this season. It is only three points and we have more to do.

    “It was the first three points, it’s not the last three points so we will keep fighting, keep trying to get better and Inshallah that will happen and Inshallah we will compete this year and win things.

    “Jazira deserve to finish better than where they did last season. They are a better side than that and that’s what I’ve come here for. I’ve come here to improve as a player personally, because I was not playing much the last two seasons as Al Ain.

    “Despite the fact I was winning things, I want to play regular football and that is why I made the move.”

    After spending four seasons at Bani Yas, Fawzi won the AGL title with the Boss in his first season playing under coach Zlatko Dalic – although he only made seven league starts.

    He featured in 19 of 26 league games last term, although Al Ain ended the season with just the Arabian Gulf Super Cup.

    Fawzi often played second fiddle to Mohamed Ahmed at both club and international level during the last two seasons, and he also hopes his move to the capital can see him make more of an impact for the UAE.

    “It wasn’t a difficult decision to come to Jazira because I have national team ambitions,” admitted Fawzi, capped 31 times for the Whites.

    “I want to play for the UAE and coming to Jazira was the right thing for me. It wasn’t about money or what other people were saying about me. I wanted to come here because I need to prove myself, I need to prove that I am good enough to play in the national team.

    “I want to play in the World Cup and help the UAE make it. In the national team it is usually the whole defence is from Al Ain so I think with a season of regular football here and playing well, I can break into the national team.

    “I have belief in myself and belief first of all that I can have a good season here and do good things for Jazira, and then break into the UAE squad. Every player wants to do that.

    “I think I’m good enough. I started my career at (Ittihad) Kalba and then at Bani Yas so I have had challenges in my career to break into those first teams.

    “I have another challenge ahead of myself now at Jazira and Inshallah it can result in me playing for Mahdi Ali and Inshallah helping my national team reach the 2018 World Cup. To play in a World Cup would be a dream for any player.”

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