Kazım Kazım hopes for Premier gala
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Article summary
Fenerbahçe SK's English-born attacker Kazım Kazım is hoping that his side will be drawn with Premier League opponents in the first knockout round later this week.
Article top media content
Article body
Fenerbahçe SK will enter the UEFA Champions League first knockout round draw for the first time on Friday – and English-born attacker Kazım Kazım is dreaming of playing Premier League opposition.
English hope
Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC are among seven potential opponents for the Turkish champions, who beat PFC CSKA Moskva 3-1 last week to clinch second place in Group G and progress from the group stage for the first time in five attempts. The former Colin Kazım-Richards, a summer signing from Sheffield United FC, is hoping to face familiar foes on 19/20 February and 4/5 March, with the first leg in Istanbul. "I want to get an English club," Kazım Kazım told uefa.com. "For Fenerbahçe to get an English club would be massive as well, as the Premier League is the best league is the world. So if we can do something against one of the best teams in the world, it would be great for Turkey."
Playing for place
The 21-year-old appeared in five of Fenerbahçe's group stage matches, coming on as a substitute four times. In his sole start it was his shot that was deflected in for the opening goal in the crucial 2-0 win against PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 4, while against CSKA he had a great chance blocked by a defender within minutes of his second-half arrival. "I should have scored – I didn't play my best," Kazım Kazım said. "Sometimes that happens. I've got to keep pressing on and pushing for my place because I've been playing well recently and training hard."
EURO dream
Kazım Kazım has extra incentive to win a starting place at Fenerbahçe. Turkey have qualified for UEFA EURO 2008™, and the forward aims to be in Austria and Switzerland, having made his senior international debut against Brazil in June in a year when he has been an Under-21 regular. "I know I should be in the team, I know I could play," he said. "I bring something different to whatever team I play in, especially international football. They are not likely to deal easily with people like me, who are direct and have fun getting through people. I'm not saying I get past them all the time but I'll never stop getting at them. So I hope [Turkey coach] Fatih Terim's watching – I think he does like me or he wouldn't have picked me. So that's my aim, but I need to play here or it will stop me going to EURO."
