CAIRO: Egypt striker Amr Zaki blames himself for letting down manager Steve Bruce when he played for Wigan and is keen to move back to the Premier League.
Having arrived on a year s loan from Cairo club Zamalek at the beginning of last season, Zaki made a promising start by scoring 10 Premier League goals during the first half of the campaign, including a spectacular brace against Liverpool at Anfield.
But things turned sour with Bruce after Zaki returned late several times after playing for his country.
Yes, I was wrong, but my mistakes were not intentional, they resulted from my trouble adapting to England, a repentant Zaki told The Associated Press during an interview in Cairo. I want to get back (to England) to prove that I am a good player, and that I have learned from my mistakes. Maybe if I went back to England, I would finish my career there.
Zaki s form dipped from January onwards and he failed to score again, while Bruce went from raving about him to ranting after Zaki came back late from international duty for a fourth time in April. Though Bruce labeled him the most unprofessional player he had ever worked with, Zaki does not hold a grudge.
If I met Bruce now, I would hug him, I love (appreciate) him so much, Zaki said. Steve Bruce is a very good coach. Despite what he said, I am proud to have worked under such a good coach.
The first time I had delayed my return to Wigan, the second time I missed the plane, said Zaki, who was speaking in Arabic through an interpreter. I did not think this would not be a problem, but I was wrong and I have to admit that. No one learns without making mistakes.
Speaking ahead of Egypt s crucial World Cup qualifier away to Zambia on Saturday, Zaki said he underestimated just how strict life in English football would be.
I grew up all my life in Egypt, and you become familiar with the Egyptian rules. For example, if I miss training because my mother is ill, I can just call the coach and tell him I can t come to training and he will understand, Zaki said. When I go to training the next day, everyone will ask me how my mother is. But in England the club and coach have nothing to do with such matters, (so) this does not excuse missing a training session in England.
Zaki believes the attitude of Bruce, who is now manager of Sunderland, would have been different had he managed to buy him from Zamalek President Mamdouh Abbas.
It was mostly to do with Zamalek s refusal to sell me to Wigan in the end, despite more than five requests from Bruce, said Zaki. Wigan had me on loan for one season and were trying to buy me from Zamalek to sell me to another club for more.
Aston Villa wanted me in January, but my loan with Wigan was until June. If I wasn t on loan to Wigan, and had been signed permanently, Bruce would never had spoken about me this way, Zaki said. He wouldn t have said these things about me, even if I had been delayed getting back to Wigan.
Now back at Zamalek, Zaki s Premier League return could take him to Portsmouth, with the striker saying that he had personal assurances from Pompey s former owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim that a move could go ahead in January.
Al-Fahim offloaded 90 percent of his stake to Saudi Arabian property magnate Ali Al-Faraj on Monday, but Zaki said Al-Fahim has already spoken twice with him by telephone to express a personal interest.
The second call he assured me that he would submit an offer to Zamalek in January, Zaki said.
