Tigers’ El Jamal – epitome of hard work and belief

The grandeur of the most beautiful game in the world is its ability to constantly deliver delight and despair for its enthusiasts, ups and downs for the artists that take the field and the emotions of the architects that hand out their instructions prior to each match.
The common denominator in football anywhere is the passion that engulfs all involved. It is something that every player carries within, creating a burning desire to succeed at all levels.
For many, 30-years of age may well seem a little late for a footballer to be still setting big goals in his playing career, though not all 30-year old footballers possess the hunger, fitness and determination of APIA-Leichhardt Tigers defender Adel El Jamal.
The central defender boasts a big frame with a massive physical presence, an equally impressive engine and a strong ability on the ball – qualities that all managers across the world seek from their central defender.
El Jamal joined the Tigers at the start of the 2012 season, one of, the Tigers’ then coach, John Turner’s must have acquisitions for the season.
“It is a bit of a funny story, or at least I can laugh now,” started the Tigers central defender.
“When I was at FC Bossy Liverpool, I had spoken with John Turner and was ready to join him at Wollongong Wolves – just after his side won the NSW Premier League in 2008.
“The club ended up folding prior to the 2009 season, and that move didn’t eventuate.
“John Turner still assisted with me getting a gig at Marconi Stallions, though it was a pleasure to get the call up from him to come to APIA-Leichhardt.”
Despite John Turner leaving before the end of the season, El Jamal remained genuine to the club, sticking around in a bid to get the side back to its glory days of the old NSL competition.
“This is a great club with some very passionate people involved who give so much.
“We had a strong finish to the season in 2012, our start was poor though in the end we reached the Cup Final and only just missed out on the finals series,” El Jamal recalled.
The Tigers 2013 campaign has taken somewhat of a similar direction as that of last year, with the side struggling in the League – currently sitting in eleventh-spot after sixteen rounds – with a Cup Final to come this weekend.
“It has been an indifferent season for us…, we are not sitting in a position that we would like to be in,” El Jamal continued.
“Our start was far from good. Without making excuses though we had some issues with our training grounds, we played all our matches at home on a bumpy surface, which I think did not help our style of play.
“Add to this that we had a change in coaches, it has really been a difficult period for everyone involved.”
Following the departure of Gary Ward, the Tigers gave the coaching reigns to Nicola Rizzo and man motivator Billy McColl, a move that the Tigers defender sees as a very positive one.
“Both Nick and Billy have been tremendous, there is a very positive feel around the group, something that I believe is already guiding us in the right direction.”
This coming weekend, the Tigers are preparing for another shot at Sutherland Sharks this weekend – the third time the two sides meet this season – after the Sharks pipped APIA-Leichhardt in the 2012 Waratah Cup Final. The opportunity at hand for El Jamal & Co. is to exact some redemption.
“We are looking forward to the Final. It has been strange this season, especially with the lack of depth we have had, we weren’t really sure how to approach the Cup at the start of the season.
“In saying that, we have managed to get things right – maybe we are a better midweek team than one on the weekend,” laughed El Jamal.
“We have progressed through to the Final, and our last result against Bonnyrigg was tremendous and yes, it is a chance to gain some revenge following the Final loss last season.”
Sutherland Sharks, who hold a four-point lead over Bonnyrigg at the top of the League ladder will certainly pose a massive test for the Tigers this Sunday, even the home ground advantage will be against the team from the Inner West.
“Unfortunately, we are playing a great side at their home ground on a surface that they train on each week.
“The task at hand is big, we won’t make any excuses and we will give this our best shot.
El Jamal continued: “The professionalism of this club is seen with the preparation we are undergoing this week, with training scheduled on an artificial surface in the lead up, and we will put our best foot forward to give us our best shot at claiming some silverware.”
The former Macarthur Rams and Marconi Stallions defender – the other two sides that El Jamal has represented in NSW’s top flight – will not be drawn on looking too far down the track, even if it is easy for one’s mind to wander further ahead with the Tigers’ difficult current campaign.
“This season has been a tough one, though we will concentrate on the Final and give this our best shot.
“We cannot relax as we need to ensure that we will remain in the top-flight next season, which means our attentions need to turn quickly onto the League after Sunday and we need to get going in our attempt to achieve salvation – I am very confident that we will not be going down at the end of this season!”
The Sports Co-ordinator at De La Salle College Ashfield is enjoying the challenge posed by his role at work, and that presented in his football career, though there is still some hunger for a shot at the A-League should the chance come about.
“To play at the top level in this country, as a professional, would be a chance I would love to have…, one would be silly to pass up on that,” El Jamal enlightened.
“Given the opportunity to train full-time, over a six to ten week stint at an A-League club, I would back myself completely to get a gig, and I think that is a valid point for many of the players in the Premier League.
“I do think about it, though I need to concentrate on the short term and ensure that I give APIA all my attention, and that we realise the objectives we have in place.”
El Jamal’s self-belief, character, and hunger to do well is nothing out of the ordinary according to the modest ‘giant’ at the heart of the Tigers defence, a characteristic that he attributes totally to his two role models.
“I can’t go past my father, not only from a football sense but from a character sense, my dad has brought me up to be the best man I can be.
“He valued education very much, he put my siblings and myself through University and gave us the best opportunities to have professional careers – I take my hat off to him every single day for his work.
“He comes to watch me play, he gets a buzz week-in, week-out – He is my number 1 role model,” said a proud Adel El Jamal.
“My brother-in-law too (Nedal ‘Skinny’ Hussein) was a professional boxer and he represented Australia at the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
“I was his running partner in training and I have never met a fitter bloke than him…, it was a massive eye opener for me to see the dedication and strict training that these guys put themselves through, something I look to apply to my career.”
The humble nature of El Jamal cannot be more evident than when he speaks of his students and their ambitions.
“I always tell the kids at school never to neglect education. It is something that you will always need to fall back on, no matter how good of a footballer – or sportsman – you are.
“You can’t play football forever and you need an education to fall back on.”
El Jamal continued: “A lot of parents get a bit confused in these circumstances where they feel they need to pull their children out of sport to concentrate on their studies.
“Exercise and physical activity are associated with better quality of life and health outcomes, and this is reflected in students and their learning. Everyone needs an outlet, energy expenditure, to best focus on studies”
“This is what I look to encourage in my students.”
With the APIA-Leichhardt defensive line led by such an ambitious talent, the APIA-Leichhardt faithful can be completely confident in the Tigers’ combat for silverware, and consequent salvation in the top-flight, ahead of a bright future.
-By Joseph Carlucci