Ahmed Adam from Sudan

My name is Ahmed Adam and I’m from Sudan. I was born in 1993 in a coastal town called Port Sudan which is in the North-East of the country. I studied Electrical Engineering at Omdurman Islamic University. I have one brother and one sister who are older than me and two younger brothers and two younger sisters. I would like to tell you a little bit about life and football in my country. 

My country's full name is...

...the Republic of Sudan. Sudan is located in the North-East of Africa, and the River Nile (The World’s Longest River) divides the country into eastern and western halves. Sudan was once the largest and the most geographically diverse state in Africa. However, it was split into two countries in July 2011. Now, it is the third largest country in Africa after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The official languages are Arabic and English. With 114 native languages and more than 500 accents, it has a diverse multilingual population. 

One of the most interesting places to visit in my country is...

... Khartoum. It is Sudan’s capital and has a wealth of tourist attractions that include many different museums. There are lots of places to visit near the capital. You can visit Al Sabaloka, which is a gorge with the River Nile running through it. You can take a boat trip here if you like. You can also visit Tuti Island which is where the Blue and White Niles meet. It's a beautiful place but there are lots of other places to see in Sudan, too. You can visit the Red Sea State which is where I am from. The Red Sea is one of Sudan’s major attractions. The crystal-clear water and the natural charm of the coral reefs and marine gardens are the top reasons for visiting this wonderful place. Another place to visit is Dinder National Park in the east of Sudan close to the border with Ethiopia. It is one of the largest wildlife parks in the world and you can see lions, leopards and cheetahs.

I like to spend my weekends... 

... at the seaside in Port Sudan. It’s a very nice place with many different things to do. For me, it’s a place where I can forget about life problems and just relax. But, if you don't like the seaside, you can visit Jebel Marra, which is a mountain range and is a beautiful place to visit.

The national dish of Sudan...

... is probably 'Foul' which is pronounced 'fool' rather than the football word! Foul is a lightly mashed bean dish garnished with oil and cheese. It is also incredibly cheap, making it a tremendously cost effective meal for everybody. Foul is not only cheap and delicious but it is a unifying force in Sudan. It bridges the gap between the rich and the poor and provides a medium to strengthen a sense of brotherhood, one of the primary features of Islam. Traditional dishes such as Ghurrasa with Damaa, Asseeda (porridge) with Tagalia, and Kisra with Bamia (okra) are also very popular. But if you aren’t a traditional food fan, then you can try Kebab or Shak-Shooka. 

My favourite time of year...

... is Eid Al-Adha Al Mubarak. After enjoying three days with my family and relatives, it’s time to go out for a journey with friends. Sometimes we go to Arkaweet. It’s a beautiful part of the countryside with fantastic weather. We usually stay there for a week or two; do some sightseeing, enjoy the weather, and have fun.

A popular holiday in Sudan is...

... January the 1st. It is a public holiday in Sudan as the independence was announced on this day. The country celebrates its anniversary by raising the country’s flag and playing the National Anthem everywhere. The President of the Republic addresses the crowds and some national songs are played. The atmosphere is unbelievable. TVs and radios broadcast the greatest moments and show historical figures in the history of Sudan and how they struggled to make the independence a reality. Everyone feels proud to be part of the country.  

The most popular sport in Sudan is...

... football. Our National football team is nicknamed the Falcons of Jediane. The home matches are often played in the International Stadium of Khartoum. Sudan was one of the four African nations which formed African football – the others being Egypt, Ethiopia and South Africa. Sudan hosted the first African Cup of Nations in 1956, and has won the tournament once, in 1970. The nation's capital (Khartoum) is home to the Khartoum League, which is considered to be the oldest football league in Africa. Now we have the Sudanese Premier League, although it’s probably not as good as the EPL. I support Al-Hilal FC and our local rivals are El-Merreikh FC. The derby between the two sides is called the Omdurman Derby and it’s also the best match of the season as they are the nation's strongest and most successful clubs. The clubs are separated by a distance of only a few hundred meters. If you don’t have a match ticket, then a café is usually the place where most people enjoy watching football matches as you can have a nice cup of tea while celebrating a goal.

I support...

... Liverpool. The Premier League is extremely popular in Sudan, and Liverpool is a massive club and it has a huge fanbase not only in Europe but throughout the world. Listening to You’ll Never Walk Alone always makes Liverpool supporters feel special. The anthem is capable of providing hope, support, joy and an amazing sense of togetherness for fans and players. It symbolises what the club stands for. I have seen the club during its glorious times and during its difficult times, the one thing that remains constant is the fans' love and unlimited support. A Liverpool fan knows that once he starts supporting this great club, he feels like he belongs to one big global family. I can say that I am so proud and lucky to be a fan of this glorious club. I think it’s only a matter of time before we start creating history again.

My football hero is...

...Zinedine Zidane. Zidane was one of the leading footballers of his generation. He was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in a poll held by UEFA and is globally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. The ball would die on Zidane's feet no matter which way he received a pass- this is supremely difficult. He didn’t need to run or dribble, he could confound the opposition with a single touch or single feint. Zidane will always be the best I have ever watched. 

Premier Skills English is...

...  a great place to communicate in English. I am continuously impressed with the amount of time and energy the staff at Premier Skills English put into making sure all members are enjoying it! Special Thanks to teachers Jack & Rich. They are an incredibly talented group of teachers who want nothing but the best for us. Thank you for everything you do that make PSE such a great place to communicate in English, enjoy the EPL, and the most important thing to learn and improve our English.

My favourite football quote is...

As long as we have the possibility, then we still have to fight for it.

Xabi Alonso when playing for Liverpool.

Six things you might not know about Sudan.

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