Forward Jires Kembo Ekoko is relishing feeling wanted by Al Nasr after he was given the cold shoulder by former club Al Ain.
Kembo Ekoko, 27, signed a two-year contract last month after he was excluded from the Arabian Gulf League champions’ pre-season tour and put on the transfer market.
The Dh6.1m move ended a rollercoaster three-year association in which the recruit from Rennes scored 19 top-flight goals in 44
These performances saw a number of clubs in pursuit, Bani Yas agreeing a fee and Turkish Super Lig-outfit Bursaspor being linked.
But there was only ever one place for him once the Blue Wave made it clear what a key player he would be.
“I chose Al Nasr because I felt like everybody wanted me,” Kembo Ekoko said. “For me, it is very important that the management, the coach and everybody shows that they want you.
“That is why my choice to sign for them was easy. I am happy to be in the Al Nasr team, because everybody treats me like a friend and brother.”
The former France Under-21 international has formed part of a total refit of Nasr’s four-player foreign quota during the summer as they look to turn last term’s Arabian Gulf Cup and President’s Cup double into a title push.
Playmaker Luis Jimenez was also brought in once his Al Ahli contract expired, winger Jonathan Pitroipa arrived from Al Jazira and Brazil striker Nilmar came from Internacional as a replacement for the AWOL Ibrahima Toure.
Kembo Ekoko brings the experience of two AGL triumphs and was convinced his new team have the talent to do the same in 2015/16.
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He said: “I believe in the players here. We have good quality and there are amazing players here.
“We have a good coach [Ivan Jovanovic], who works very well with us.
“Al Nasr will try to have a good season and continue what they did last year.”
The much-changed side are still finding their feet in the early stages of the campaign. Kembo Ekoko started his second game for them on Friday, providing a lone spark during a drab goalless AG Cup draw against Bur Dubai rivals Al Wasl.
“It is new for us,” he said. “I played with Nilmar in Qatar for one year so I knew him well.
“But it is a long time without playing together. With Luis Jimenez, Jonathan Pitroipa and Tariq Ahmed, it is not easy as it is our first time together.
“We are trying in training to find how we will play. When you have good players, it will always be easy.”
Jovanovic’s men are next in action on Saturday when the league resumes with a long trip to Al Dhafra.
