Mohsni: 'Fans have been great to me & would love them to have something to really celebrate'
He certainly stands out on a footy pitch, and now he's fighting fit, well let's hope it's just the fit bit, centre-back come striker, and who knows if Corr stays out injured it could be Bilel and Bomber up front, French Tunisian Bilel Mohsni is still a Shrimper and looking forward to the new season.
And who would have thought it was just a year ago after being spotted on a park pitch in a Parisian suburb that Blues boss Paul Sturrock would make sure he put pen to paper after a trail and turn down a £200k offer from then Premiership Blackpool!
Mohsni told www.echo-news.co.uk: “I’m very pleased with how my first year has gone with Southend. There have been disappointments, like not making the play-offs and getting injured, but I’m happy with how things have gone because it was very tough to begin with. In England the ball is in the air a lot more than in France where football is played on the ground but I like that and it had always been a dream of mine to come and play over here. Just like everyone else, I also have dreams of playing higher. So because of that it was flattering that Blackpool wanted to sign me and it showed I must have done well but I’m more than happy to be at Southend.”
As well as playing football back home Bilel worked in a local school teaching Maths and French, and though English was not one of his subjects whatever the song says, he's getting along just fine.
Mohsni explained: “I just picked words up from my team-mates and my English has improved a lot now. I probably learnt the swear words first but England is a beautiful country and I like living here. It’s different to Paris and I found it strange to start with that everywhere shut at 5.30pm. But to be honest all I do is sleep a lot and play football so it hasn’t been a problem moving here.”
Anyway, it's full-time footy now, and after a couple of suspensions in his first campaign the Shrimpers faithful will be hoping to see a less excitable Bilel!
He said: “I think I need to try and calm down when I play. Last season I was sent off a couple of times and then had to miss games being suspended so I don’t want that to happen again. I think I can do it and need to stop getting involved in silly things on the pitch.”
Let's hope so Bilel, but as with all footballer's as August approaches, optimisim is high.
Mohsni concluded: “We have a good team and we should do well. Hopefully we can make the play-offs and least this season and I want my first year to be even better than the first because of the fans. They have been great to me and I would love for them to have something to really celebrate.”
The champagne's on ice mate!
For the full article, go here: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/theblues/9145562.Mohsni__What_a_difference_a_year_makes/
Seasiders move for seasider: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
Still a Shrimper: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
The Mohsni Files
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 July 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back / centre forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southend United | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| CO Les Ulis | ? | (?) | |
| –2008 | US Saint-Georges | ? | (?) |
| 2008–2009 | CO Les Ulis | ? | (?) |
| 2009–2010 | Sainte-Geneviève Sports | ? | (?) |
| 2010– | Southend United | 23 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:21, 16 February 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full info go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilel_Mohsni)