Moncef Bakar Reflects on His Football Journey Before Joining Al Ahly

Algerian striker Mounsef Bakar, the new player for Al Ahly, spoke about his football career before joining the Red Castle, and the difficulties and setbacks he encountered during this period.

Mounsef, the Al Ahly forward, began his statements on the official website, saying: "I was born and raised in the city of Salah Bay, and I started playing football there. I played at the "GSMB" academy, which is a small academy, then I returned to Salah Bay, after which I moved to Moloudia de El Eulma, then to ES Sétif, and finally to Croatia."

He added in a statement: "The journey of leaving Algeria and turning professional in Europe was not easy, but thank God I succeeded, especially since I was part of Algeria's youth teams under 17 and under 18, and then I continued my journey until I reached the senior national team."

The player stated: "I played with Istra in Croatia, then moved to New York City FC, where I spent two years. It was a very important experience for me, and it helped me a lot on both a personal and professional level. I consider it a significant milestone in my football career."

He continued: "After that, I returned to Croatia through Dinamo Zagreb, and I had a very special experience there. I was satisfied with the level I presented, and thank God I transferred to Al Ahly, and I am very happy with this step."

He added: "Being an expatriate and away from your family teaches you several things. Life is not easy when you are far from your loved ones and living alone, especially for a football player."

He continued: "I have always held on to my prayers, and God Almighty has never let me down. I certainly faced some difficulties and setbacks, but I managed to deal with them, and my family has always been there by my side supporting me. Family is the most important thing, and I salute them."

Speaking about his move to Al Ahly, Moncef Bakar said: "Since my arrival, I felt like part of the team. Many told me that Al Ahly has a wonderful atmosphere and that I would receive a special welcome, and that’s exactly what happened. Even though I haven’t spent much time with the team, I feel as if I have been here for a while."

He added: "I quickly integrated into the training and all aspects of life within the team, and thank God I feel very comfortable. I had started my preparation period with Dinamo Zagreb very early because the season required strong preparations, and I completed the entire preparation period until its end, and I also participated in the preparations for the first match in the Champions League."