“I stayed in the wheelchair one year”

Assad al-Hamlawi has shown in the first white-blue matches that it is a true striker, with the sense of the gate, and has quickly won the hearts of the supporters in Bania, who have been waiting for the team to be a valuable striker in recent years.

More than three months after he signed in Romania, the player born in Sweden and quoted at 1.2 million euros by the specialized site Transfermarkt offered a large interview, in which he approached several topics, talking about his past and about the health problems that gave him big headaches and who made him need to give up.

Assad al-Hamlawi: “I had terrible injuries”

“I had terrible injuries when I was smaller. In 2015, I broke both legs and I stayed in the wheelchair for almost a year. It was hard, but I had the family next to me and the whole family is strong mentally. We support ourselves and always help. So I got up and I am stronger than ever.

At first, I thought my career was over. My football is over. I will not be able to go again. I will not be able to run again. But I tell you now that my dad got very angry because, as soon as I could go, I started doing backflip again, “said Assad, quoted by Superliga.ro.

Assad al Hamlawi

Arrived in Banie thanks to Tudor Băluță

The attacker of the Oltenians also spoke about how his transfer to Superliga was possible, a very important role in this move having his colleague from the team, Tudor Băluță.

“I have to thank Tudor Băluță because because of him it all started. He made me a name through the coach and the sports director. They found me interesting and from there I was interested.

Tudor, he spoke about the coach, about the sports director, about the team. How involved and professionals are on the ground. And outside the field, they are calm, funny. Accepts players as they are and how we come as people. All he said was right, and I am very grateful for that.

I didn't watch Romanian football before and I'm usually so. I go and do everything I am told to do, I do everything I can and so on. But I like football here. It's very passionate. The duels are harsh and I hope I can score more goals, ”the Palestinian said.

I grew up with football in family. Started with my sister and my older brother. And I remember my dad told me when I was a little younger that he usually took me to my older brother's workouts. And I immediately took the ball and started playing alone. And then my father realized that I already had love for football. So, since I was three, four, five years old, I was always on my feet.

When I was younger, I was even a goalkeeper. I was left -handed defender because I liked to run with the ball alone. They usually told me I was a divas because I didn't want to pass the ball. So I was just playing with her.

– Assad al-Hamlawi, striker Craiova

I grew up in two different parts of Sweden. When I was very small, I was in Kalmar, a place called Kalmar. It was a lot of nature and I have many funny memories. There football started there. I remember, the city was so small that you could ride your bike everywhere. And you didn't have to worry about many things, no crime or something.

You could enjoy the days, ride a bicycle in nature or do what you want. But then we moved to another city. It's called Angelholm. It's close to Malmö for those who know Malmö. It was very similar, but more city. And I had many friends there. I used to play to hide where we lived.

It was probably one of the best moments I had, because it was the period without phones. You went to the door to knock, instead of calling these things. So it was a very good time.

– Assad al-Hamlawi, striker Craiova

• In 15 games in all competitions this season, Assad scored 6 goals and offered two decisive passes