"Assalamu Alaikum", I say, as I extend my hand to greet Mohammad Sissoko.


"Wa'alaikum Salaam," he replies, shaking my hand before we sit down to talk about his roller coaster of a first premiership and European campaign for Liverpool, at the Melwood training ground.


"Allah please protect my eyes" - a relieved Mohammad describes how he felt when he lay injured after being accidentally kicked in the head by Portuguese midfielder Beto during the champions league game against Benfica in Portugal.

"So many thoughts were going through my head. But now, thank Allah, my eye is fine and my family and the people of my country are happy.
The injury was very bad, not just for me, but for my parents. But I'm ok now."

Sometimes you forget Sissoko is so young. He is mature far beyond his 21 years.

The level-headed and intelligent Liverpool player said:

"I have no pride, for me Islam is very important.
"Now I have a lot of things, alhamdulillah!
"Every day I pray and thank Allah all the time because this is very, very important to me,"

adds Mohammad with extreme sincerity.

Follow up:

Mohammad has adapted to English life in a very positive way, although he is still getting used to British weather.

"I came from Valencia last year. It's very different to life there.
"It's hot there; here it's hot one day and cold the next and the food is different too. But it's good."

Born in the district of Mont Saint Agnain in Rouen, France, Mohammad along with his 15 siblings were brought up by parents Mohamed and Fatou, in Troyes on the outskirts of Paris.
He feels he owes what he has become today to the efforts of his parents.

"Playing for Liverpool is very important for me.
"When I was young I wanted to work for my family because we were very poor.
"We didn't have a lot of living space and a lot of other good things.
"My dad had to wake up at 5am every day to go to work. Both my parents worked very hard."

The Mali international insists Liverpool can win the champion's league trophy next year.

"Insha'Allah! - I think this team is very good.
"Next season new players will arrive, and we have Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and also Xabi Alonso who are good players.
"For me it is about the team, not just one player.
"We are confident, and when every player has confidence, everything on the pitch is ok."

Sissoko speaks highly of manager Rafa Benitez, who has compared him to Patrick Vieira.
He feels Benitez is a manager who is at ease with speaking to all his players constantly and engaging with them for team development.

As a player who won the Spanish La Liga title and the UEFA Cup in the season he spent with Benitez at Valencia, he seemingly respects Benitez almost as a father figure.

"When the coach speaks highly of me, I'm happy. I am confident; everyday I work hard to become a better player."

Mohammad insists Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who have dreams and aspirations of emulating their heroes, should focus on working hard like he did.

"For me it is about work, work, just working hard all the time.
"When I was in school I was told to respect everyone and everything, and concentrate on my work and my football.
"For Muslims and non Muslims alike, having pride is a bad thing, so for me in the beginning I had to work very hard for my family because I wanted to Insha'Allah (god willing) make them happy.
"So from the beginning I had this in my head."

Mohammad Sissoko will be frightening premiership midfielders for years to come.
In an era when footballers are deemed as being vain and selfish, a new non-egotistical generation of footballers is being nurtured at Liverpool's Melwood training ground.

Rafa Benitez has picked up on the old Shankly and Paisley managerial tradition, and in an era of general globalization he has added an international feel to the squad, and will stop at nothing to place Liverpool back where they belong.


Mohammad's commitment to Islam, his maturity, and his family values are very important to him.
Those qualities have helped him become the man he is today a star in waiting.

Under Benitez's guidance he will only improve and become a Liverpool legend.


Source: Mohammed Bhana for Asian Image


Related Articles: Match Report: West Ham v Liverpool | Complete List of Liverpool Managers | Stevie Gerrard's End of Season Awards