- Admin
- #1
Joining from Helsingborg, a young Swedish midfielder on his way to becoming the Polish Zindane? 
confused?....
An interview courtesy of Polishsoccer.com from Feb 2007...
1) You were born and raised in Sweden. Your mom is from Poland, and your dad is from Iraq. What was the determining factor of you playing for Poland, instead of Iraq, or more realistically Sweden?
My heart belongs to Poland because I have spent a lot of time there. I always think about my family in Iraq, but because the situation is like it is there, it’s impossible for me to go and visit them. As you know I have lived in Sweden all of my life and if I wanted to I would play for Sweden, but as I said my heart belongs to Poland.
2) A lot of fans have a hard time pronouncing your name, and often misspell it. Tell us, once and for all, the correct version.
Zeyn Al-Abidyn S-Latef, but all of my friends just call me Zeyn.
3) Did PZPN seek you, or did you get a hold of PZPN?
My father called PZPN, and then he spoke with Mr. Globisz. The people in Poland don’t know how many good players there are in other countries with Polish passports, but I’m happy that Mr. Globisz let me come down to Poland and show him what I can do.
4) You play for Helsingsborg in Sweden, but you are a veteran of the Feyenoord Rotterdam youth academy. Tell us a little bit about this experience.
Feyenoord is very special. It’s a club with very old tradition. I learned a lot there, and everyone thinks that this club is super good. When I played in Feyenoord, we played against a lot of better clubs. The trainers and players there are very good, so it’s a dream for every player to play there, and it was a good year for me.
5) What age group do you currently play for in Helsingsborg?
Most of the time I train with the U-21 team, but since last year I also started to train with the first team. I have also played some games for the second team of Helsingsborg. I’m very happy with my situation here, because there are not a lot of 16 year olds that can train with a first league team in Sweden, and the team finished in first places last year, so it’s a good team.
6) The Swedish league is not considered a top league in Europe. Do you plan to transfer anytime soon to a top European league? Maybe a possible return to Feyenoord?
As you know I have already played for Feyenoord and I know everything about football in Holland, so I don’t want to play with Janota in Feyenoord, but maybe if he moves to another club in Spain or France. (laugh) He is a good player and a good guy, so it’s very fun to play with him. I’m happy that I’m very close to a contract with the first team of Helsingsborg. To train or play with the first team in the Swedish league, is better then playing for any U-19 in a better league. We have to wait and see what happens, I’m not in a rush to leave Helsingsborg, but if a good offer comes by I will have to listen to it.
7) What part of Poland does your family come from?
We come for Wielkopolska and most of my family lives in Poznan, which is my favorite city in Poland.
8) What do you most like about Poland, and what is your general opinion of Poland?
I love Poland, and I would like to finish my football career in Poland someday. It’s a nice country, with nice people and good food. You can find everything that you want there.
9) Do you feel well acclimated amongst your Polish born teammates, when the team meets in Poland and prepares for competitions?
It’s a very nice group of guys. They have taken good care of me, I like them a lot.
10) It is often said that you are on the verge of becoming the Polish version of Zinedine Zidane. What do you make of these comparisons?
Zidane is my idol, and I’m very happy that I can be mentioned in the same sentence as him, but today it’s not realistic to compare me with Zidane. However, one day I hope to be as good as Zidane, so the the Polish fans can watching good football.
11) In your opinion, when do you think you’ll be ready to play for Poland’s senior team?
It’s a very difficult question. It’s my dream and I hope that this day will come very soon. When I start to play with the first team of Helsingsborg on a regular basis, I hope that PZPN will send people to Sweden to watch me play on the pitch. My goal is to play for the senior squad in the next World Cup.
12) What is your strong side on the pitch, and what do you think you will have to work on in the future, in order to continue your progression?
I think that I can be better in everything, even the things that I am good at right now. I think that I can develop all the aspects of my game. I think I’m an intelligent player with a good touch, and good technique. If you want to know more you can always contact Mr.Globisz.
13) What do you make of our opponents in the Elite round of U-17 European championship competition: Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland? What are your chances versus these teams?
First of all, I am very happy that I can play against Sweden. Spain are the favorites, but I think we have a very good team with a lot of good players. I’m not scared of any team in our group. We just have to focus hard, before and during the game, and we can make it to the next round.
14) The Polish U-17 side is labeled as a very talented class of players. Be honest with me, who is the star of this team?
(Laugh) That’s a nice question. I think the team as a whole is the star. One player can’t win the game. All of us have to play good to get a victory.
15) Five years from now, how far along would you like to be with the Polish national team and your club?
In five years I would like to play for the senior squad in Euro 2012, and I hope to be a very important part of the team. I also hope to play for a big club in Europe. I know that if I train hard and continue to work on my skills, this chance will come to me.
Zeyn, on behalf of polishsoccer.com I would like to thank you for your time and wish you the very best at Helsingsborg, and further matches for Poland U-17 and beyond.
confused?....An interview courtesy of Polishsoccer.com from Feb 2007...
1) You were born and raised in Sweden. Your mom is from Poland, and your dad is from Iraq. What was the determining factor of you playing for Poland, instead of Iraq, or more realistically Sweden?
My heart belongs to Poland because I have spent a lot of time there. I always think about my family in Iraq, but because the situation is like it is there, it’s impossible for me to go and visit them. As you know I have lived in Sweden all of my life and if I wanted to I would play for Sweden, but as I said my heart belongs to Poland.
2) A lot of fans have a hard time pronouncing your name, and often misspell it. Tell us, once and for all, the correct version.
Zeyn Al-Abidyn S-Latef, but all of my friends just call me Zeyn.
3) Did PZPN seek you, or did you get a hold of PZPN?
My father called PZPN, and then he spoke with Mr. Globisz. The people in Poland don’t know how many good players there are in other countries with Polish passports, but I’m happy that Mr. Globisz let me come down to Poland and show him what I can do.
4) You play for Helsingsborg in Sweden, but you are a veteran of the Feyenoord Rotterdam youth academy. Tell us a little bit about this experience.
Feyenoord is very special. It’s a club with very old tradition. I learned a lot there, and everyone thinks that this club is super good. When I played in Feyenoord, we played against a lot of better clubs. The trainers and players there are very good, so it’s a dream for every player to play there, and it was a good year for me.
5) What age group do you currently play for in Helsingsborg?
Most of the time I train with the U-21 team, but since last year I also started to train with the first team. I have also played some games for the second team of Helsingsborg. I’m very happy with my situation here, because there are not a lot of 16 year olds that can train with a first league team in Sweden, and the team finished in first places last year, so it’s a good team.
6) The Swedish league is not considered a top league in Europe. Do you plan to transfer anytime soon to a top European league? Maybe a possible return to Feyenoord?
As you know I have already played for Feyenoord and I know everything about football in Holland, so I don’t want to play with Janota in Feyenoord, but maybe if he moves to another club in Spain or France. (laugh) He is a good player and a good guy, so it’s very fun to play with him. I’m happy that I’m very close to a contract with the first team of Helsingsborg. To train or play with the first team in the Swedish league, is better then playing for any U-19 in a better league. We have to wait and see what happens, I’m not in a rush to leave Helsingsborg, but if a good offer comes by I will have to listen to it.
7) What part of Poland does your family come from?
We come for Wielkopolska and most of my family lives in Poznan, which is my favorite city in Poland.
8) What do you most like about Poland, and what is your general opinion of Poland?
I love Poland, and I would like to finish my football career in Poland someday. It’s a nice country, with nice people and good food. You can find everything that you want there.
9) Do you feel well acclimated amongst your Polish born teammates, when the team meets in Poland and prepares for competitions?
It’s a very nice group of guys. They have taken good care of me, I like them a lot.
10) It is often said that you are on the verge of becoming the Polish version of Zinedine Zidane. What do you make of these comparisons?
Zidane is my idol, and I’m very happy that I can be mentioned in the same sentence as him, but today it’s not realistic to compare me with Zidane. However, one day I hope to be as good as Zidane, so the the Polish fans can watching good football.
11) In your opinion, when do you think you’ll be ready to play for Poland’s senior team?
It’s a very difficult question. It’s my dream and I hope that this day will come very soon. When I start to play with the first team of Helsingsborg on a regular basis, I hope that PZPN will send people to Sweden to watch me play on the pitch. My goal is to play for the senior squad in the next World Cup.
12) What is your strong side on the pitch, and what do you think you will have to work on in the future, in order to continue your progression?
I think that I can be better in everything, even the things that I am good at right now. I think that I can develop all the aspects of my game. I think I’m an intelligent player with a good touch, and good technique. If you want to know more you can always contact Mr.Globisz.
13) What do you make of our opponents in the Elite round of U-17 European championship competition: Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland? What are your chances versus these teams?
First of all, I am very happy that I can play against Sweden. Spain are the favorites, but I think we have a very good team with a lot of good players. I’m not scared of any team in our group. We just have to focus hard, before and during the game, and we can make it to the next round.
14) The Polish U-17 side is labeled as a very talented class of players. Be honest with me, who is the star of this team?
(Laugh) That’s a nice question. I think the team as a whole is the star. One player can’t win the game. All of us have to play good to get a victory.
15) Five years from now, how far along would you like to be with the Polish national team and your club?
In five years I would like to play for the senior squad in Euro 2012, and I hope to be a very important part of the team. I also hope to play for a big club in Europe. I know that if I train hard and continue to work on my skills, this chance will come to me.
Zeyn, on behalf of polishsoccer.com I would like to thank you for your time and wish you the very best at Helsingsborg, and further matches for Poland U-17 and beyond.
