Special Feature: El Jamal finally links up with John Turner

Now into his fourth season in NSW?s highest football competition, El Jamal has finally linked up with John Turner – the coach who first spotted him five years ago when he was playing with Liverpool Bossy FC.
At the time a move from Bossy FC to the old Wollongong Wolves failed as El Jamal explains: ?At Bossy FC we won the Grand Final and I originally was going to go with John Turner to Wollongong, but they ended up folding and then I got the offer at Marconi.
?John Turner came to watch the Grand Final and I got a phone call a week later. I had a meeting with them in Wollongong, signed papers and everything, but then a couple of months down the track they held a meeting and the club was in administration,? El Jamal said. ?However, thanks to John he actually teed me up with Marconi so that worked out well.?
El Jamal spent three productive seasons at Marconi before switching to APIA Leichhardt. The 29 year old, high school teacher at De La Salle College Ashfield, is also enjoying the fact that he can work and then train with the local club.
?I spent three years with Marconi, two years under Lee Sterrey and one under Luke Casserly,? he said.
?I had two good years with Lee Sterrey; we made a Grand Final and then finished in the top four. Last year was pretty disappointing considering what we had achieved.
?When John Turner got back into coaching, I thought I would make the move to APIA Leichhardt.
?I kept in contact with him it?s always good playing under someone who knows your game and has confidence in you. I only work down the road, so this is the local club and it?s great.?
-By Joe Russo