Top Arab and international footballers headlined the first session of an engaging Sharjah Ramadan Majlis held Monday evening at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah. The first session of the 12th edition Sharjah Ramadan Majlis, organised by the Sharjah Press Club of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, titled "The Offensive and Defensive Line...Football Between Results and the Pleasure of Performance" featured Ricardo Kaka, the former player of the Brazilian national team and star of Italian AC Milan and Spanish Real Madrid, and Mohamed Elneny, the star of the Egyptian national team and the midfielder of Arsenal FC in UK.
The session, moderated by the Kuwaiti sports journalist, Mashari Al-Khazim, discussed the impact of training plans on football, the performance of players and their playing positions, and the extent to which offensive and defensive forms of play reflect on the fans of clubs and drive the pleasure of football performance. The session tackled the important question, “Results or crowd fun?”
Speaking on the occasion, Ricardo Kaka observed, “The goal of football matches is always to achieve results, and if there is beautiful play, then this is good, and it is important that the ideal form be present in the style of any team in the world, in addition to combining the beautiful game with good results.”
The Brazilian national team star added that he had been lucky when he played with big global teams and brilliant internationally acclaimed names. He said he had been fortunate to present beautiful football and positive results, especially in the 2002 World Cup at the national level, and in Milan during the European Champions League championship in 2007 at the team level.
Kaka advised every football player to enjoy his game and give everything he has to serve his team. He said out he enjoys the performance of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Arsenal, as they present the beautiful game at its best. Speaking about the best coaches, the Brazilian star praised the Italian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, as he is a coach who can bring out the best in the players. His national team, Brazil in the 2006 World Cup, despite not winning the tournament, demonstrated that it was fun, he added.
The Brazilian icon said his most beautiful goal has been against Manchester United due to the importance of the match. At this stage in his life, Kaka said he enjoys his time with the family and does not think about going into the field for training. He thanked the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis organisers for hosting him hoping he would see more such beautiful meetings in the future.
Egyptian star Mohamed Elneny said he agreed with Kaka arguing the final outcome is always more important regardless of the style of the game, and the player must give everything he has in the team for victory, pointing out that it is victory that eventually matters and makes the fans and followers happy in the end. Elneny chose the Arsenal team in 2004 for making the league.
The Egyptian star said the Brazilian national team was his favourite since the Brazilians are the ones who invent everything new in football. He lauded Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta as the best because of his great effort with the team and the presence of things that are not visible to the public.
Elneny considered the German Mesut Ozil as the best player he has played with. He said he loves Kaka because he plays with ease and elegance. Talking about the Egyptian star Mohamed Salah, Elneny said he is an Arab and Egyptian legend, and everyone is proud of him and his achievements in the English Premier League.
The Egyptian star thanked the organisers for dedicating the first session to football and hosting him alongside the Brazilian football star Kaka in Sharjah.
At the end of the session, HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, honored the speakers.
Accompanying events
The session was preceded by an episode of the "Thirty Challenge" program presented by content creator Musaed Al-Fouzan, with the participation of Abdullah Ashkanani and Muhammad Suhail. The winners of the Ramadan Majlis competitions won T-shirts bearing the signatures of the football icons, in addition to valuable prizes offered by the Sharjah Cooperative Society, Grand Stores and Lulu Hypermarket.
