Exclusive interview with Sharu Naraji of Sheffield United

Persianleague
- May 05, 2007
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This article originally appeared on www.footballmedia.net.(Afshin Dastafshan)

footballmedia.net - Sharu Naraji (full name Shahruz Hajmollah Ahmad Naraji) was the second Iranian to play in the English Premiership which is one of the toughest leagues in the world (three of the four teams in this year’s UEFA Champions League semi-finals are English).  Born in Bolton, England in February 1984 to an Iranian father and British mother Sharu’s family moved to Iran when he was 4 years old, he grew up in Tehran. Sharu has been playing for Sheffield United since July 2005; he previously played for Esteghlal FC of Tehran, Torino FC of Italy and Real Zaragoza of Spain. Sharu is the brother of Shana Haji of Hibernian FC whom I interviewed recently (Shana Haji’s interview here). I would like to thank Sharu for accepting my request for an interview:

 
Afshin:
Let us begin with your present club Sheffield United, how did your first season (2005/2006) go at the club? Can you recall roughly how many games you played in the first team in 2005/2006 (league and cup)?
 
Sharu:
I had a trial with Sheffield Utd in July 2005, at the time the club was in England’s Championship Division. Head coach Neil Warnock was impressed with my performance, he referred to my pace and technique as strengths and said I had potential for the Premiership, I trained with the first team and played in pre-season friendlies, Warnock said I was part of his plans if I continued to produce the same performance in competitive matches when the league started. I was confident of being in Warnock’s first team; I signed a one year deal the same month.
Afshin:
Tell me about your injury and how it has affected your game in season 2005/2006?
 
Sharu:
I had never had any injury problems before, but some five weeks into my contract with Sheffield Utd the worst experience of my life occurred on August 18th 2005 when I picked up a devastating injury in a pre-season friendly; I had sent the ball behind my marker then changed direction with all my strength and pace to get by him in an attempt to collect the ball, that’s when I ruptured my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), it needed a reconstructive operation followed by a 9 month rehabilitation period. I had the operation in October 2005 and spent the rest of the season exercising and going through rehabilitation; I started physiotherapy in May 2006 and started to train with the first team in July 2006.
 
Afshin:
Did you feel comfortable that your injury had healed when you started to train with the first team in July 2006 and how did your injury recur?
 
Sharu:
I cannot say I was comfortable, I had doubts about it but played on, the injury recurred in my first match back in a pre-season friendly against Chesterfield in September 2006, basically the surgery I had in England had been a failure, my ACL recurrence was blamed on ‘Surgery Error’. This time I was sent to USA for the reconstructive operation by Dr Donald Shelbourne who is one of the best ACL surgeons in the world with a 99% success rate. After my first operation in 2005 I needed walking sticks for 12 weeks, but this time round I had physiotherapy 8 hours after the operation, I only needed walking sticks for 24 hours! I stayed in the US for one week; rehabilitation period was estimated at 6 to 8 months.
 
Afshin:
It’s almost 6 months since your second operation, what is your fitness level just now and when do you anticipate to be match-ready?
 
Sharu:
Right now I am 70% fit and training, I am not ready for contacts, I expect to be fully fit in June this year and be training fully including contacts, I will be match-ready in July.
 
Afshin:
I understand you were approached by the Iranian national team (Team Melli) during Branko’s time with the possibility of playing for Iran in WC2006 finals, could you shed some light on that?
 
Sharu:
That is correct, Iranian Football Federation officials contacted my agent and said they were interested in me and were going to invite me to the squad for Iran’s world cup friendly match against South Korea which was played in October 2005, but due to my injury I had to rule myself out, I never recovered from my ACL to join Team Melli before WC2006.
 
Afshin:
There were many changes in the Iranian football federation after the world cup including a new board and coaching team, have the Iranian football authorities been in touch with you to check your progress this season?
 
Sharu:
Yes, IRIFF has been in touch with me this season. A number of IRIFF officials and scouts were planning to come and see me play this season but due to my recurring ACL injury their trip was called off.
Afshin:
Do you anticipate your contract to be extended with Sheffield Utd at the end of 2006/2007 season?
 
Sharu:
Sheffield Utd were promoted to the Premiership this season, we are currently 3 points clear of relegation zone in 15th place (out of 20 teams, bottom 3 will be relegated), numerous players are under contract till the end of this season, no one’s contract will be reviewed until the club knows whether they are staying in the Premiership for next season, only then will my contract amongst others be reviewed.
 
Afshin:
You have played for clubs in Iran, Italy and Spain before moving to England, let us talk about your previous clubs and what experiences you gained which led to Sheffield United, first Esteghlal of Tehran, how long were you with the Tehran club?
 
Sharu:
Mr Hassan Rowshan setup the first football academy of its kind in Iran, I joined Mr Rowshan’s football academy at the age of 8, I trained heavily from an early age, I knew where I wanted to be and worked towards my goal from an early age, I was coached by Mr Rowshan, Mr Hajiloo, Mr Ghorab and Mr Ghani, I joined Esteghlal at the age of 12 and stayed with them till the end of 2002/2003 season.
 
Afshin:
Then came your move to the Italy and Torino FC in 2004, how did the Italian job go?
 
Sharu:
I joined Torino FC in season 2003/2004 in a 3 month load deal; I was 18 at the time and played in the youth team coached by Mr Marcolin. I gained valuable experience in Torino despite the short spell then returned to Iran for the summer break.
 
Afshin:
Let us talk about your move to Spain and Real Zaragoza where you played in 2004-2005 season, could you sum up your experience in Spanish football?
 
Sharu:
I was approached by Real Zaragoza for a trial while I was with Torino, after the trial I signed a one year deal with Real Zaragoza and played both in their youth and senior reserve teams in season 2004/2005; I played in both teams regularly for the full season. In Spain it is hard to join the first team if you are in your teens, therefore I moved to England in 2005.
 
Afshin:
What position do you play in?
 
Sharu:
I play a right winger position, I am an attacking player.
 
Afshin:
Out of the four countries you have played in which one would you say suits your style best, how do their training facility compare?
 
Sharu:
In terms of technique I liked Spain, they are at a higher level than the others, it was a good place to learn and gain experience. As for training facility Real Zaragoza and Sheffield Utd are equally good, they both provide top training facility and training ground.
 
Afshin:
Where would you like to play next season, perhaps a fifth country?
 
Sharu:
I would like to stay in England and establish myself in the Premiership, I would like to secure my first team place and put my injury nightmare behind me.
 
Afshin:
You have played for Iran’s U-20 side but missed out on the senior team due to injury, are you following Team Melli’s progress and are you hoping to join the national side in due course, perhaps for WC2010 qualifiers?
 
Sharu:
Right now I am fully focused on my club and fitness; I am determined to prove myself in the club, at the same time I am hoping to be called up to Team Melli for WC2010 qualifiers.
 
Afshin:
Is there anything you would like to add, anything for Sheffield Utd as well as Iranian fans?
 
Sharu:
I want to prove myself on the pitch and show my potential for season 2007/2008 by displaying my qualities, I am counting the days until I am back on the field playing, I want to help my club and Iran’s national team in achieving success.
 
Afshin:
It has been a pleasure having this discussion with you; I wish you all the best in your club and national team career and look forward to our next meeting.
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