New recruit of the den, Ismael Jakobs was at a press conference yesterday. He reacted to his first summons to the National Team, which he had to talk about with a club teammate and his status as a replacement for Saliou Ciss on the left lane.
“I play in the same club as Krépin Diatta. It’s true that he and I talked a lot about my possible arrival. And when the coach called me, we talked about it before the list was published and that lessened the surprise. I am very happy to be in the group and I was very well received. It’s an honor for me to be here.” said the 23-year-old player, reacting to his arrival in the national team of Senegal.
He is the first German-Senegalese to join the lair. While other players are also in Senegal’s sights, he hopes for influence following his call-up. “I don’t really know because I’m not on their minds to know what they’re thinking. I know Malick Thiaw very well, we played together in the U21 national team with Manschafft. He’s a very good player. If my decision influences them, it would be a very good thing.
Moreover, for him, playing in Germany was a natural choice but a special feeling binds him to Senegal, he reveals. “I grew up in Germany so it was normal for me to play there and especially when I was playing in the U21 selection. But I have a particular and special feeling for Senegal where everyone is behind the team. It’s something incredible that we manage to do. So I’m very happy behind here.”
Among the revelations made by the player, the role of his father and this trip to Senegal. “When I was a child, maybe 10 years old, I came to Senegal. It was important for my father because I have a large part of my family who lives in Senegal. He wanted me to find out. I was marked by this trip. My family and I are happy with this summons. I received congratulatory messages from them, it must be said that they are my first fans ».
Summoned to the National Team to strengthen the left lane which is decimated, Ismael Jakobs hopes to live up to expectations. “I watched Saliou Ciss play during the CAN. He had some good games, a very good job. I hope I can bring as much energy and passion as he does to help the team achieve its goals. I come with my motivation to help the team”. Ismaila Jakobs also magnified the simplicity of the team’s executives like Sadio Mané who are big names in European football and remain humble in the national team.
wiwsport.com