Ben Ramadan explains Al Ahly exit and recalls near-drowning incident in Tunisia

Tunisian midfielder Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan has explained why he left Egyptian giants Al Ahly for Qatar’s Al Shamal last summer, saying he wanted more playing time after struggling to secure regular opportunities.

The former Esperance player joined Al Ahly with high expectations but endured a difficult period before deciding to move to the Qatari club in search of more playing opportunities.

Speaking to Qatari broadcaster Al Kass, Ben Ramadan described Al Ahly as a club with huge ambitions but admitted that his time in Egypt did not unfold as he had hoped.

“Al Ahly is a great team that plays for championships and has great ambitions, and that is why I took the step of moving to it,” he said.

“Of course, the move was somewhat difficult because of the Esperance fans, who have done a lot for me, but I chose the sporting project because I am a player who was raised with a professional mentality.”

Ben Ramadan said he did not receive enough opportunities to establish himself at Al Ahly, adding that the club endured a challenging season that affected players, supporters and the management.

“I didn’t get my full opportunity at Al Ahly. The club went through a very difficult year for the fans, players and management, and they weren’t used to this atmosphere,” he said.

“But Al Ahly always comes back and corrects its course. I lived through a difficult year, and then the offer from Al Shamal came. I agreed because I wanted to play and participate.”

The midfielder praised Al Ahly’s management for its professionalism during negotiations over his departure, saying the process was handled smoothly and that the club wished him well.

Ben Ramadan recalls frightening incident at Al Ahly training camp

Beyond his departure, Ben Ramadan also recounted a frightening incident involving Al Ahly teammates Hussein El Shahat and Karim Fouad during the club’s training camp in Tunisia.

He said the three players went swimming in the sea on a rest day but soon found themselves in danger after strong currents began pulling them away from safety.

According to Ben Ramadan, Fouad was close to drowning after letting go of a rope, while El Shahat also encountered difficulties when he went to help his teammate.

“I went to them to save them and separate them from each other. I thank God that Yasser Ibrahim saw us from afar and came to save us quickly,” he said.

“This day was very bad, and I saw death with my own eyes.”

The incident, he said, was one of the most distressing experiences he encountered during his time at the Egyptian club.

Why Ben Ramadan chose Al Shamal

Explaining his decision to join Al Shamal, the Tunisian international said he was attracted by the club’s development plans, ambition and desire to compete for honours.

He believes the Qatari side is progressing rapidly and has the structure and determination to challenge for trophies.

“Al Shamal is a team that is developing very quickly. There is a lot of work happening at the club, the management has ambitions, and they are competing for championships,” he said.

“I was impressed by their project, and they were able to convince me to move to them.”

Ben Ramadan sends message to Esperance fans

Ben Ramadan also addressed his relationship with Esperance supporters, acknowledging their importance in his career and expressing regret if his decisions had disappointed them.

The midfielder said he never intended to upset the Tunisian club’s fans, whom he described as exceptional and particularly demanding in terms of the psychological pressure they place on players.

“I cannot upset the Esperance fans, and if it happened, it was unintentional,” he said.

“The Esperance fans are more difficult to deal with than the Al Ahly fans in terms of psychological pressure. They are exceptional, and I miss them very much.”