Sherif Ekramy, the first-team football player for Pyramids Club, commented on his decision to retire from the game, directing a message to Al Ahly and its fans.
Sherif Ekramy had played for many clubs, foremost among them Al Ahly Club and Pyramids, in addition to a stint with Dutch Feyenoord.
"Ekramy" said to On Sport channel: "The time has come to retire; this is the appropriate time for me, and in terms of effort I could have continued.. but in terms of feeling and passion, I think this is the right time, as camps, travels, and matches have become exhausting for me".
He continued: "Whether I played or not did not matter to me, because I had a role even if away from the pitch, and when I left Al Ahly, I achieved everything, and distinctive individual numbers at Pyramids, and the moment of retirement is the hardest in my life".
See also | Sherif Ekramy announces his retirement from football.. and directs a message to Al Ahly
He added: "I enjoyed football after Al Ahly, and broke the 100-match barrier during my time at Pyramids and succeeded in achieving the club's goal of reaching the podiums, but (there is nothing in Egypt like Al Ahly) and I lived with it moments of joy and titles".
He went on: "In a 30-year football journey, it is difficult for your relationship with the fans to remain the same; you will certainly reach differences with them and sometimes agree, but I was never dishonest with the fans".
He continued: "The Ghana vs Egypt match 6/1 was a difficult moment in my career, and my injury in the Africa Cup of Nations and Al-Hadary's participation instead of me, and the 2012 Al-Masry incident were among the very difficult moments, and my journey with Al Ahly ended at the right time and even my retirement decision is at a very appropriate time".
Regarding the next step, he continued: "I cannot say where, and I am not in a hurry, and I have a passion to learn and am interested in media and management, and I will not be able to coach in general, but I may contribute administratively and in the media".
He continued: "In the last two years, sports media has developed in content and image despite there being very difficult content, but there is other content close to the people and presents the truth, and I used to hate the media as a player and it would ask me for interventions and interviews, and if I did not do them I would pay the price and I am still paying it".
He went on: "Pyramids did not get its media right at the time of winning the African title; Egypt did not rejoice the same way as Al Ahly's crowning with the same title, and this is natural because Pyramids has no fans, but Pyramids wanted to get its media right, and Al Ahly's popularity is very strong".
He added: "I have nothing but gratitude and love for Al Ahly's fans because I am a son of Al Ahly; I love the fans even those angry with me, and I teared up from Al Ahly fans' comments on my retirement video, and it is very genuine and does not deceive".
When asked if his dream is to return to Al Ahly, he replied: "Why not, Al Ahly is my home and I was born in it, and if Al Ahly elections become without war and for the benefit of the club and without agendas, I might run".
He concluded: "In recent years I saw things in Al Ahly that I did not like to see, and in the end we are human and no one is infallible, and I might be present in the Football Association, and my dream is to be in a place where when I leave it people say may God grant him good evening".
