Interview: Ansan Greeners' Soony Saad
Ansan Greeners have had a busy transfer window, with a number of fresh faces coming into the club ahead of their 2020 campaign. One signing that particularly caught the eye was that of Lebanese international, Soony Saad. Ansan Greeners columnist, James Walsh spoke to the Green Wolves’ newest addition about his switch to the Wa~ Stadium. (Image via GreenersFC.com)
Ansan supporters were thrilled by the announcement of Soony Saad’s recent arrival, and are eager to see the Lebanese international make his first-team bow as a Green Wolf. However, K League 2 is presently suspended due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, but that hasn’t dampened the 27-year-old’s delight of becoming a Greener, “It’s been amazing so far adjusting to life in Korea, especially in Ansan. I’ve wanted to play in Korea for a long time and now that I have the opportunity, it’s important that I embrace all aspects of life here. I’ve settled down nicely and have found places to eat, shop, and have a good time. When life goes back to normal from the coronavirus, I’ll be able to enjoy more of this beautiful country. I’m getting to know my teammates and the city, and I’m excited to start the season.”
The self-confessed Liverpool FC fanatic is relishing the challenge of filling the void left by the departure of now-Busan IPark centre-forward, Gustavo Vintecinco, “My targets for the season are to score and assist as many goals as I can. I know I can help the team in many ways, so if we are winning, I know I am doing my job.”
Saad was born in Wayne County, Michigan, and looks back on his childhood with fondness, “I am very blessed to come from a family that is close. We all grew up close in age and talk to each other almost every day. My parents sacrificed a lot for us, so if I can someday do that for my children, I would feel like I’ve repaid them back.”
The creative playmaker attributes his love for his profession to his dad, who he describes as the best manager that he has played under, “My father introduced me to soccer at a very young age. I am the youngest of four siblings and he was our coach. He has an incredible eye for the game and has a different mentality than anybody I have ever met. If it wasn’t for my parents, especially my father, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Soony’s brother also had a significant influence on his youth development, “My brother had more talent than I did, so I kept trying to improve, and he really helped me become better and train when we were younger.”
Saad in action for Sporting Kansas City. (Image via SportingKC.com) |
The Lebanese attacker recorded a total of eight goals and seven assists in MLS as a Sporting KC player and picked up U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup winner’s medals in his time playing under Peter Vermes, who is currently the longest-serving head coach in the top-flight of the American game, after taking over at the club in 2009. SKC will always hold a special place in Saad's heart, “The trophies that I won in my time at Sporting Kansas City in MLS [are the highlights of his career thus far]. We won the league and the FA Cup, and the feeling of being crowned champions was incredible. Hopefully, I can have different highlights by the end of my career!”.
Saad enjoyed a real purple patch on loan at Pattaya United. (Image via PattayaMail.com) |
Saad on international duty for the Cedars. (Image via SportingKC.com) |
The former Kansas man has since gone on to earn several further caps, and bagged his first competitive international goal in the Lebanese Republic's emphatic 5-2 victory over Thailand in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Bangkok in 2014, and then got on the scoresheet again for the Western Asian nation in a 2-0 friendly win over Afghanistan in Tripoli two years later.
The pacy striker believes that Liviu Ciobotariu's Lebanese national side, who currently lie in third in Group H in Asia’s World Cup qualification standings, have an outside chance of sealing a place at Qatar 2022, “I believe that it’s a possibility. South Korea is in our group and we need to get some good results in our upcoming matches. We have the talent to qualify, we just need to come together and get ourselves ready tactically.”
The Green Wolves' latest acquisition hails from the same county as legendary business magnate and founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, and the Wa~ faithful will certainly be hoping that the Dearborn native will be the driving force behind the Greeners' promotion push this season.
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