When did you get the phone call letting you know that you had been selected for national team?
I got the call late Monday arvo, I was actually washing my car when a random number popped up. I couldn't answer the phone because of all the water so when I eventually did, it was Joel from Football Federation Australia.
I said 'hey mate how are you going, have I done something, am I in trouble?' But then he just congratulated me and told me that Ange had selected me for the Aussie team and you could have probably seen my smile from Sydney. It was crazy.
Did you see it coming?
Not really because no one really spoke to me about it. My coaching staff kept telling me 'mate, you keep going because you could see yourself in the Aussie team'. Obviously it was always a dream of mine and I would always love to make the team and it was always in the back of my mind but I was just taking it game by game. It's great to see Ange is rewarding those that are doing well and I am lost for words because it's been that good.
It's just good to see him give me another chance because he was my coach with the under 20s. He's someone that has had a bit of bad luck in terms of coaching, a lot of people rode him off and then he's come through with the goods with the Asian Cup and obviously not result-wise but the way the team was playing at the World Cup.
So it shows that Ange is a quality coach and he's got big dreams and big hopes for the national team and every game that the Aussie team step out for, I've been a supporter of because you just see them getting better and better so it's just an honour to be a part of that now.
What does this opportunity mean to you?
Look Lucy, you will probably never know how much this actually means to be, it's massive. Not only for me but for my family, they're the proudest people for me. When I let them know about the news, mum was in tears and dad's voice was croaky. As a son to them, I was so proud that I made them proud.
I am just excited to be part of the team. I'll do everything in my powers because as the end of the day, it's in my hands and I'll just go in there and enjoy myself really. I am not going to put too much pressure on myself. I am going to go in with the same attitude that Josep has drilled into me here, where there's no pressure in being a footballer. Pressure is when you can't feed your family, pressure is when you've got no food and drinks on the table, that's pressure. At the end of the day, tomorrow I'll come home and I'll have food on the table.
When he says things like that, it makes you appreciate what you're doing as a footballer and it does show that there's more to life than just putting pressure on yourself to be the best but in saying that, there are people out there who are less fortunate than me but it's a great honour to get the call-up.
What about for us as a nation?
I think it's great for Australian football, it's a good test for us. It'll show where we're at as a nation. The Asian Cup was great and everyone is still celebrating that but that's in the past. I haven't spoken to Ange yet but I am sure he's focussing on the future and that's to qualify for the World Cup and compete in the next World Cup and make sure that we are, as a nation, successful.
Did you always imagine that you would get to this point?
I always had it in me. My brother Ahmed was my biggest idol growing up, I always wanted to be like him and he went on to represent Australia and did very well with the national team and I aspired to be like that. I was involved with the Aussie team when I was about 21, 22 and those dreams were cut short due to the way that I was playing and I had a few set-backs with groin problems.
I always had big goals and dreams that I wanted to play for my country and play at the highest level. Before I came over to Adelaide, I had a moment to myself and re-considered my goals and at that present time, it was just to make sure that I played consistent football for Adelaide.
That was my number one goal making sure that I did that and that I focussed on that. And then, when I did get a bit of consistency and starting playing here, again, I had a few moments to myself where I thought, 'I would love to play for my country again and hopefully I do get the chance' but in saying that, the only thing I could do was concentrate on myself and make sure that I was playing to best of my ability and I am just glad to be rewarded.
How do you look back on your time with Western Sydney Wanderers and working under Tony Popovic?
For me, it was tough times when I was at West Sydney. It was hard but I couldn't really do anything because the team won the league that year and made the grand final and I had a foreigner playing in my position. I did feel hard-done by when some players were injured or were suspended and I didn't quite get my chance but that's football, I can't make the decisions for the coach.
In saying that, Tony Popovic has been a coach that has taught me a lot as a person and as a professional. I had a text message from him today, and it was something that made me think 'this guy's a gentleman, he's actually helped my game'. Obviously things didn't work out when I was there but at the end of the day, he's congratulating me and giving me credit when things are going good for me, so it just shows what sort of character he is.
Given how difficult the time at Western Sydney was, how did the move to Adelaide come about?
My move here to Adelaide was a decision I had to make, it obviously wasn't for money reasons because that wasn't the case, it was more just the chance and something I spoke about with Josep when I first arrived that I've come here to play and if he didn't see me in his plans to play, then to let me know now before it's too late.
He's given me a lot of confidence as a player and he's the sort of coach that doesn't really care if you make mistakes, as long as you try and try to play the style that he wants, which is possession-based, that's all that matters. It's helped me develop as a person and as a player and obviously the boys around me, there's plenty of quality here which helps when the team's going well and when you've got quality around you, it makes your job a hell of a lot easier.
When I first came to Adelaide, it was mainly a decision that Michael Petrillo, Michael Valkanis and Angelo Costanzo had to make. Josep didn't name me as part of the plans but when he watched videos of the games he mentioned that we needed a right-back and for them to look for an Australian right-back. I had the honour of playing next to Angelo Costanzo at Newcastle so he was quick to mention to Valkanis to have a look at me for that position. It took a while, we spoke and spoke back and forth and then we finally got it over the line and here I am today.
Josep took the punt in signing me because at the end of the day everyone would have looked at him and asked, why did you sign this guy? I got a phone call from him telling me how happy he was with my call-up and just how proud he was of me. I thanked him for giving me the chance and helping me and he told me, 'this is all your doing, this has got nothing to do with me. You're the one playing'."
Does it play on your mind that the internationals against Germany and FYR Macedonia are the last two games before the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and that you'll have to prove yourself?
For me, it's a great achievement to be selected for these two friendlies. A year and a half ago, I was just happy to be playing again, at West Sydney. I was just happy to make the squad. So to be playing regular football is something great for me but now that I've got the opportunity to join the national team in Europe to play these last two friendly games, it is something else.
I think I am just going to go in there and be myself. I've got nothing to lose because a year and a half ago, I didn't even think that I'd still be playing. It's all about just going out and there to just do what I do, be nice and positive and enjoy the experience and whatever comes from that comes.
Is there anyone in particular from the Germany squad you'd be looking forward to playing against?
It's not so much about one person, I think it's just about playing against the world's best. I am not expecting to go in there and walk into the team and think it's going to be so easy for me. In saying that, now that I am going to be a part of it, I am just excited to be there and I am going to work as hard as I can to be at my best and if I get the call-up, then I am ready for it.
