Meet 19-Year-Old Saudi Professional Football Player Rayan Hamza Making His Mark in Europe with Elite Greek Club, Ovi Crete

2023-06-13 20:46:34

Saudi Rayan Hamza (19 years old) is drawing attention with his Greek team, Ovi Crete, as he seeks to prove his worth in playing in the most powerful European national leagues in the world in the future, by highlighting his technical competence and skill capabilities with the elite players of the Greek club who are competing for prominence. In the hope that scouts in Europe will choose them to move to a big club in the best national leagues in the world.

Abdul Aziz Hamza, brother of Rayan, in a match for the Croatian team Uljanik Pula (Ryan Hamza account – Twitter)

Rayan Hamza, with his ambition and football skills, competes in the European League, as his professionalism and football intelligence led him to play abroad, and he was named the youngest Saudi professional player in Europe, with a desire to succeed his father, the former Saudi international player Hamza Idris.

Ryan’s career began at the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club, when he was five years old, and he progressed through the age groups until the age of sixteen. And after he amazed everyone with his football talent, he was chosen by the Saudi scholarship program for a period of 18 months, and it was his first gateway to professionalism, as he moved as a professional player in the Belgian club Westerlo for a period of 6 months, and stopped at his last stop; The Greek club, Ovi Crete, is in the center of attack, and is also distinguished by playing basketball.

Rayan Hamza (Ryan Hamza account – Twitter)

Rayan grew up in the shade of a soccer tree, sheltering in its shadows, starting with his father and his first inspiration, Hamza Idris, the former soccer player in Uhud Club, Al-Ittihad and the Saudi national team, who is locally called “Lightning”, and among his fans who always say “Hamza Qul”, because he climbed with His former team, Uhud Club from Madinah, to the Professional League twice in a row in the 1991 and 1993 seasons, and he won the top scorer in the first division in 1993, while he won the title of best player in 2010, knowing that two of his father’s brothers were playing in the goalkeeper position, and they are Bakr Idris and Omar Idris, as well as his brother Abdul Aziz Hamza, who also plays in the guard position in the Uljanik Pula club in the Croatian League.

Ryan says: “I dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player like my father, and I am currently fulfilling my dream, and my father’s golden career and stardom fall upon me, which motivates me to develop and strive every day, and also that I come from a large sports family with a history that motivates me to do my best.”

Hamza stressed that Al-Ittihad Club remains his first home, the place where he grew up and learned the basics from. He added, “I always feel proud that I was part of this great entity, and I was honored to represent a big club like the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club.”

And he added, “The reason for choosing to become a professional abroad was because I had the passion and curiosity to go through the experience that I had heard about since my childhood, and what I was watching the European League matches on TV increased my enthusiasm, and now I live it as a real experience. I also extend my sincere thanks to the scholarship program, which gave me an opportunity to prove my skill and professionalism to the world in Europe.”

He continued: «Professionalism in Europe has a price, as I faced some difficulties that require sacrifice and work hard and diligently, and this is what made me develop and become better, and continue in Europe».

He revealed that he was subjected in his early years abroad to a look of sarcasm and contempt, as he is characterized by less skillful and professional capabilities than his counterparts in Europe, but he passed this stage by focusing on the field, distancing himself from confusion and negativity, and focusing more on learning, development and positive aspects of football.

Regarding the list of his favorite players, Rayan said that his favorite player is Bafetimbi Gomez, the former Al Hilal player of Saudi Arabia, and Galatasaray now, as he praised the player’s capabilities, which is a distinctive point that greatly shortens the sports career, and he learns a lot from him, indicating that what distinguishes him is his reliance on the foot. left hand, physical strength, play reading and intelligence on the field.

Ryan revealed a lot about his future, saying: “I am thinking of continuing my career in Europe. This is my dream and my goal, but the world of football is volatile, I do not know what might happen, and this is my main goal, and my ambition in this game is to make a difference, and achieve records that a Saudi player has not achieved before, and I seek to raise the name of my country, Saudi Arabia, in professionalism abroad, and mix The Saudi and European way of playing.

Rayan Hamza during one of the matches of his team, Ovi Crete, in the Greek League (Ryan Hamza account – Twitter)

When asked about the difference between the Saudi and European leagues, Rayan told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Yes, there is a difference between Saudi and European football. More in the World Cup, in the coming period, and the circle of professional and experienced Saudi players in Europe will expand, and the full picture becomes clear to us of how to formulate play and football thinking there.

He concluded: «My message to every novice Saudi player; Make your ambitions and great goals, do not make it difficult, on the contrary, make your dreams lead you to present your best, and there is no impossible, as we are in the era of (Saudi empowerment) all over the world.

He added: «When your goal is difficult, and no one can compare to you, know that you will reach your destination and your dream, no matter how long it takes and the roads stumble on you. Have full confidence that you will become a distinguished player one day.

It is noteworthy that the Saudi Scholarship Program for the Development of Football Talents was launched for the first time in 2019, and it gradually targets the Sunni groups from 17 to 20 years old, and is concerned with developing all the professional aspects of Saudi players, and the technical, fitness and mental aspects, by establishing an integrated daily program, which includes selected elements. To experience European professionalism, in addition to playing competitive matches in terms of technical and physical level with various teams, whether in Spain or in various European countries.

The program management seeks to hone the selected talents through self-development and improve their quality in the English language, and to play friendly matches with the largest European clubs and academies, in order to prepare them for professionalism in European and international clubs.

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