Azeem Azam Speaks exclusively to ( ESPN.COM ) about his come back, injuries and those online attacks.
I had a formal request from my editor to interview Azeem Azam ex Betis and AS Monaco left winger, my first reaction was, where did Azam disappeared for over two seasons now? Having known Azam’s career path firstly at MLS after injuries, I was quite intrigued what really happened at Bestis and those online extortion plots against him? As I made my way to a plush hotel in Hertfordshire, first choice for most of the premier league players (Hanbury Manor)
We didn’t get to see you for two seasons, what happened? And these ridiculous online attacks on you.
Where do I begin, it’s been hard and almost impossible road to travel but I feel I am through the worst of it now.
Let’s start with when you left for MLS (Major League Soccer) you happened to be on most of the news reports at the time that you were signing for one of the MLS teams.
Not really after I recovered from my ATL injury I needed to get fit and sharp quickly as MLS have a summer season, so I decided to go out there after my agents secured little training for me with few of the teams. Their rehab facilities are the best in the world and their fitness methods are second to none, it was an amazing experience, but the player wage caps and limitations on wage always meant I would never find MLS a financially viable option at the time though I did play a hand full of games under a waiver.
You spent some time at AS Monaco, how did you find it in a city full of riches in a different sport?
Monaco opened my eyes to two different sides of the spectrum, here’s a city indulged in riches, yet football didn’t even come second after the formula 1 and the high flying models. It was an interesting city but it was always disappointing to see the stadium half empty or even three quarters empty some times. I didn’t get many games at all again my injuries were playing their part at the worst of times.
How did the Betis deal come about and what really happened?
I would say with out a shadow of doubt this was the most fascinating and most peculiar signing of my life, it would probably be the same for most players in my shoes at the time. The day I was getting ready to sign for Betis, it was announced the same morning that both President and manager are stepping down. These are the guys who offered me the deal, so what happens now. At about 11am I am told to sign the contract and we will take it from there, so there were media and the press release worldwide “Betis have signed Azeem Azam” which they had not yet, so the back tracking begins. Some media announced it’s a hoax, the others announced it’s been called off, etc. What was really happening is that Betis in their wisdom decided that the old deal will not stand and a new offer will have to be made. I finally agree to a one year deal with a signing on fee slashed from Three Hundred Thousand Euros and a wage packed of Two Hundred Thousand Euros per annum, to a quarter of that and a signing on fee off Seventy Thousand Euros, which to date I have never seen. I got a hand full of matches, I did really well in pre-season but the new manager wanted a more defending holding left sided player and not a flying winger.
You returned home after that, there were media reports on you training at Spurs? And even the like of Juventus and Galatasaray had shown a massive interest, what happened?
We arranged training with Spurs through Spanish contacts with Juande Ramos who had been the previous manager at Spurs, again a knee injury kept me away from that. I spent some time at Bisham Abbey recovering but I needed an operation which I was avoiding.
And Juventus and Galatasaray how did they come about? I was in Italy covering Milan Derby when you were mentioned in Italian news.
The Juventus deal was subject to players swaps, I don’t think Juve wanted me for me but rather what the other agents involved were bringing to the table as a player swap, though it was unbelievably flattering, there were certain conditions attached, mainly recovering from my knee injury. Galatasaray showed a big interest in you, for quite a while. What happened?
Again the same knee injury. I actually had a behind closed doors medical with them, but the knee needed more attention before I could under take any medical. They held on for almost 6 months but there was a huge revamp at Galatasaray that changed any interest in me, almost the story of my life, manager steps down half the back room staff left etc.
Really how did these vulgar online attacks come about calling you all sorts? I did get informed by a colleague that you set the record straight at a recent press conference you gave.
That’s very true, I had to set the record straight and tell the world of the extortion plot against me by this vile man. I was approached by a so called rehab facility in Central London promising me they could recover me from injuries without a operation, undoubtedly I was very intrigued, so I spent a month with them in which they did nothing but injure me more. I was pulled to the side by one of their trainers claiming that I am being rehabbed wrongly and I should train with him, he says and I quote ‘’ this lot have no clue I can get you fit and strong. All I ask for is introduction to your agents and other players, if I fail to improve you as a player in two months you can walk away’’. Four months later I am still training with this facility and they are not getting me any further. My agents refuse to see this establishment for further work. Alarm bells rang when there was no improvement to my injury and we get hit with a bill for over Seventy Thousand Pounds for Four months training, yes you heard me right over £70,000 for Four months training. Then the threats came that if I didn’t pay it I would be a victim of a online attack that would destroy my name, so the malicious lies and slander started, we were all unaware of this until some of the teams that had shown an interest pointed my representatives to fake accounts on my name. We took the company to court, we were granted a injunction, however they claimed it was not them, as all liars extorting £70,000 from someone would say I guess.
Didn’t your representatives vet such people?
That’s where the problem arose, when my agents did some background checks we found out that he had no previous expertise in this field and he was just a glorified gym instructor and not a qualified physiotherapist or a sports rehab expert as he claimed. My representatives have circulated a press release and memo to all the agents and clubs warning them of this company’s behaviour and to be on the look out for such people. What people need to realise is that it is so easy to try to destroy someone’s life but if you have some truth to say, do it from your own account and not fake ones as it gives them no credibility, but he is a cyber bully as the courts put it and this is what cyber bullies do.
There must be loads of people like this looking for their ten seconds of fame in the spot light, is there not a system put in place to protect professional Footballers from attacks like this?
You would think so but it’s up to the individual I guess to ask the right questions from the right people who are qualified.
What would your advice be to anyone in your situation looking for rehab and recovering from injuries?
Always go through the proper channels and always use respected and reputable physiotherapists and rehab experts who have been in the game and who come with recommendations, that way you will be safe.
Check out more information related to Azeem Azam here :-
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item828433/Fit-again-Azeem-chases-new-horizons/
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/19/promiseland-beckons-azeem/
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/18/foul-play/
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item829969/
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item844954/Al-Ahli-confirm-offer-for-Azeem-Azam/
http://asia1news.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/azeem-azams-memorable-moment-in-football/
http://heroesofazeemazam.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/azeem-azams-top-10-magicians.html
I had a formal request from my editor to interview Azeem Azam ex Betis and AS Monaco left winger, my first reaction was, where did Azam disappeared for over two seasons now? Having known Azam’s career path firstly at MLS after injuries, I was quite intrigued what really happened at Bestis and those online extortion plots against him? As I made my way to a plush hotel in Hertfordshire, first choice for most of the premier league players (Hanbury Manor)
We didn’t get to see you for two seasons, what happened? And these ridiculous online attacks on you.
Where do I begin, it’s been hard and almost impossible road to travel but I feel I am through the worst of it now.
Let’s start with when you left for MLS (Major League Soccer) you happened to be on most of the news reports at the time that you were signing for one of the MLS teams.
Not really after I recovered from my ATL injury I needed to get fit and sharp quickly as MLS have a summer season, so I decided to go out there after my agents secured little training for me with few of the teams. Their rehab facilities are the best in the world and their fitness methods are second to none, it was an amazing experience, but the player wage caps and limitations on wage always meant I would never find MLS a financially viable option at the time though I did play a hand full of games under a waiver.
You spent some time at AS Monaco, how did you find it in a city full of riches in a different sport?
Monaco opened my eyes to two different sides of the spectrum, here’s a city indulged in riches, yet football didn’t even come second after the formula 1 and the high flying models. It was an interesting city but it was always disappointing to see the stadium half empty or even three quarters empty some times. I didn’t get many games at all again my injuries were playing their part at the worst of times.
How did the Betis deal come about and what really happened?
I would say with out a shadow of doubt this was the most fascinating and most peculiar signing of my life, it would probably be the same for most players in my shoes at the time. The day I was getting ready to sign for Betis, it was announced the same morning that both President and manager are stepping down. These are the guys who offered me the deal, so what happens now. At about 11am I am told to sign the contract and we will take it from there, so there were media and the press release worldwide “Betis have signed Azeem Azam” which they had not yet, so the back tracking begins. Some media announced it’s a hoax, the others announced it’s been called off, etc. What was really happening is that Betis in their wisdom decided that the old deal will not stand and a new offer will have to be made. I finally agree to a one year deal with a signing on fee slashed from Three Hundred Thousand Euros and a wage packed of Two Hundred Thousand Euros per annum, to a quarter of that and a signing on fee off Seventy Thousand Euros, which to date I have never seen. I got a hand full of matches, I did really well in pre-season but the new manager wanted a more defending holding left sided player and not a flying winger.
You returned home after that, there were media reports on you training at Spurs? And even the like of Juventus and Galatasaray had shown a massive interest, what happened?
We arranged training with Spurs through Spanish contacts with Juande Ramos who had been the previous manager at Spurs, again a knee injury kept me away from that. I spent some time at Bisham Abbey recovering but I needed an operation which I was avoiding.
And Juventus and Galatasaray how did they come about? I was in Italy covering Milan Derby when you were mentioned in Italian news.
The Juventus deal was subject to players swaps, I don’t think Juve wanted me for me but rather what the other agents involved were bringing to the table as a player swap, though it was unbelievably flattering, there were certain conditions attached, mainly recovering from my knee injury. Galatasaray showed a big interest in you, for quite a while. What happened?
Again the same knee injury. I actually had a behind closed doors medical with them, but the knee needed more attention before I could under take any medical. They held on for almost 6 months but there was a huge revamp at Galatasaray that changed any interest in me, almost the story of my life, manager steps down half the back room staff left etc.
Really how did these vulgar online attacks come about calling you all sorts? I did get informed by a colleague that you set the record straight at a recent press conference you gave.
That’s very true, I had to set the record straight and tell the world of the extortion plot against me by this vile man. I was approached by a so called rehab facility in Central London promising me they could recover me from injuries without a operation, undoubtedly I was very intrigued, so I spent a month with them in which they did nothing but injure me more. I was pulled to the side by one of their trainers claiming that I am being rehabbed wrongly and I should train with him, he says and I quote ‘’ this lot have no clue I can get you fit and strong. All I ask for is introduction to your agents and other players, if I fail to improve you as a player in two months you can walk away’’. Four months later I am still training with this facility and they are not getting me any further. My agents refuse to see this establishment for further work. Alarm bells rang when there was no improvement to my injury and we get hit with a bill for over Seventy Thousand Pounds for Four months training, yes you heard me right over £70,000 for Four months training. Then the threats came that if I didn’t pay it I would be a victim of a online attack that would destroy my name, so the malicious lies and slander started, we were all unaware of this until some of the teams that had shown an interest pointed my representatives to fake accounts on my name. We took the company to court, we were granted a injunction, however they claimed it was not them, as all liars extorting £70,000 from someone would say I guess.
Didn’t your representatives vet such people?
That’s where the problem arose, when my agents did some background checks we found out that he had no previous expertise in this field and he was just a glorified gym instructor and not a qualified physiotherapist or a sports rehab expert as he claimed. My representatives have circulated a press release and memo to all the agents and clubs warning them of this company’s behaviour and to be on the look out for such people. What people need to realise is that it is so easy to try to destroy someone’s life but if you have some truth to say, do it from your own account and not fake ones as it gives them no credibility, but he is a cyber bully as the courts put it and this is what cyber bullies do.
There must be loads of people like this looking for their ten seconds of fame in the spot light, is there not a system put in place to protect professional Footballers from attacks like this?
You would think so but it’s up to the individual I guess to ask the right questions from the right people who are qualified.
What would your advice be to anyone in your situation looking for rehab and recovering from injuries?
Always go through the proper channels and always use respected and reputable physiotherapists and rehab experts who have been in the game and who come with recommendations, that way you will be safe.
Check out more information related to Azeem Azam here :-
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item828433/Fit-again-Azeem-chases-new-horizons/
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/19/promiseland-beckons-azeem/
http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/07/18/foul-play/
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item829969/
http://www.espnstar.com/football/news/detail/item844954/Al-Ahli-confirm-offer-for-Azeem-Azam/
http://asia1news.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/azeem-azams-memorable-moment-in-football/
http://heroesofazeemazam.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/azeem-azams-top-10-magicians.html
