He is one of the young Africans who make up this season, the foreign contingent of the Egyptian championship. Beninese international A for several months, the midfielder of 20 years recounts this experience in the land of the Pharaohs. It is the first of our three sections dedicated to Beninese expatriates in Arab football..
“Sleep hello. Thank you for welcoming us on the occasion of the Guépards training course in France. Under what circumstances did you join Egypt? ?
www.2022mag.com: Dock Dodo : “I won my place at Smouha”I was evolving in the country, in the club Eternal FC (after a stint at OFMAS in Cotonou) where I spent two seasons. During the second, I was called up to the U20 national team by Mathias Déguénon, as part of the CAN qualifiers 2023.
And ?
I was spotted during the UFOA U20 tournament which took place in Niger, and who opened the doors to the CAN in Egypt for us. This is where I signed in Egypt in November 2022, more precisely in Smouha Alexandria. I signed up for four years.
https://www.2022mag.com/dokou-1-3-jai-gagne-ma-place-a-smouha/: Dock Dodo : “I won my place at Smouha”How did your integration go? ?
I was well received, notably by a Guinean, Another Sylla, who was already evolving there (The player has since left for Zimbru Chisinau, in Moldova, editor's note). He received me at his home and advised me, motivated. It was the concert of the year, he explained to me how to behave. At the club, we also had an Arabic-French translator.
Did the Egyptian coach “receive” you well? ?
Tarek El-Ashry, the coach on duty when I arrived, told me very quickly that I had come to play. He recommended that I get ready.
What difficulties did you encounter ?
We had to adapt to the pace of play specific to this championship, daily training sessions too. Well, I adapted quickly and quickly gained the coach’s trust.
At what point ?
And I imposed myself ! At the arrival, I had to play 22-23 possible matches (in fact, 29 dont 24 as holder, NB). And I delivered an assist during the championship 22-23 (Smouha finished 10th last season, editor's note)
In the process, you were called up to the Benin national A team…
Effectively, coach Gernot Rohr called on me during the double confrontation in March 2023 against Rwanda in Cotonou then in Kigali, in the CAN qualifiers 2023. I came on when we were trailing and we equalized at 1-1. I was then established in Rwanda, a match that we won on the green carpet because the opponent had used an unqualified player.
This season, how is it going ?
Coach Tarek was fired and Ahmed Samy took over on the Smouha bench (the club occupies 7th place after 15 days). He was a little rough when he arrived with me. But I gained his trust too and I haven’t left the starting XI since.”.
Comments collected in Amiens by @Frank Simon, Editor-in-Chief of
www.2022mag.com: Dock Dodo : “I won my place at Smouha”