An interview with Ali Omar, by Callum McFadden for WFi.
You are a regular international with Somalia. How proud are you to represent your country, and how does playing on the international stage compare with club football?
“Representing my national team is honestly the best feeling in the world. There are certain things you cannot describe unless you have experienced them yourself.
“To be given the opportunity to play against some of the best superstars in the world is incredible. I was saying to the lads the other day that the transition from playing for Dumbarton to representing Somalia is crazy. I go from playing in front of 800 people every week to playing in front of between 40,000 and 70,000 people at international level.
“You have to come out of one bubble and go into another. You are living in two different realities. One minute you are flying high, and the next you are back at your club, where things are completely different. You have to learn to adapt and switch between those environments quickly.
“For me, being able to represent my country and give everything for my nation is the best feeling in the world. There is nothing quite like it.”
What have been the highlights of your international career so far, and who are the best players you have faced?
“I have two main highlights. The first was playing against Algeria. Two hours before the game, there were 70,000 people in the stadium. I could not believe it. The passion from the fans and the build-up were extraordinary.
“That night I was playing against Riyad Mahrez. Honestly, it was unbelievable. Every time he touched the ball, you would think God had come down. That is how loud it was. The noise was incredible, and you could immediately see why he has had a world-class career. His touch was immaculate, and he was calm under any pressure.
“Another big moment was playing against Ivory Coast a couple of weeks ago. I had to pinch myself as I was facing some of the best players in the world, including players such as Yan Diomande, who has just joined Real Madrid for over £100 million, and other quality players such as Nicolas Pépé and Franck Kessié.
“For someone like me, coming from little Dumbarton and then playing against some of the biggest names in world football, it is a massive experience. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for the opportunities I have been given.
“I always tell people that, if you get the chance to represent your country, whatever country that may be, take it and give everything you have. These opportunities do not come around often.”
You have made a significant impact since joining Dumbarton, both as a defender and as a leader. The club was going through a difficult period when you arrived, but results have improved. How do you reflect on that progress?
“When I first came to the club, we were going through a rough patch. But, as we both know, things can always turn around. I felt it was only a matter of time.
“I remember playing against Clyde on a Tuesday night and drawing 0-0. When we got back into the dressing room, I called my family and spoke to the owner. I told them that I guaranteed we were going to go on an amazing run because I could feel something within the group.
“We then went on a nine-game unbeaten run. The players had given us something to build on, and we secured our place in the league after the club had gone through administration.
“We have also made a good start to this season. We have 12 points and are sitting three points off the play-offs, so you can see the progress we are making. We are not where we want to be yet, but these things take time because we are still a relatively new squad.
“Unfortunately, we are currently in the process of changing manager following some difficult circumstances this season, so hopefully we can continue building on what we have started and get Dumbarton where we want to be. That is the goal.”
You have also become a popular figure among the Dumbarton supporters. What does the relationship you have built with the fans and the local community mean to you?
“Honestly, the love and appreciation I have for the fans is massive. From the moment I arrived, the club and the people around Dumbarton have made me feel so welcome, and that is something I will never take for granted.
“One of the things that means the most to me is seeing the kids who come to watch us. From the warm-up right through to the match itself, they are always cheering my name. For me, that is an incredible feeling. You do not take those moments for granted because you understand what it means to those young supporters to have someone they can look up to.
“I always try to make time for the fans after games, and when I see people around the local area, I make sure I speak to them as well. It is important to me because football is about more than what happens on the pitch. The supporters give you so much encouragement, and I want them to know that I appreciate every bit of it.
“Dumbarton and the community have become really important to me because of how welcoming everyone has been. When you feel that kind of love and support, you want to give something back. Whether that is through my performances, taking time to speak to the kids, or simply having a conversation with someone in the town, I want people to know how much I value them.
“The fans are a massive part of what makes this club special. They are there supporting us, and I want to do everything I can to make them proud.”
How have you found playing in Scottish football so far?
“My first thought when I arrived was that I did not think I was going to last because of the weather!
“Seriously, on a Saturday afternoon, it can be so windy that you try to play a diagonal pass and the ball rolls back towards you. You wonder what is going on.
“But the beautiful thing is that you adapt to your environment and become accustomed to it.
“What I find fascinating about Scottish football is how few teams there are in each league and how often you play one another. You can face the same team four times in a season, which was something I had never experienced before.
“The margins are also so small. You can be two or three wins away from the top of the table, the bottom of the table, or a play-off place. It is crazy how quickly things can change.
“You keep seeing the same faces, and you want to do everything you can to get the results. It is a completely different experience from what I was used to, and that is what makes it so fascinating.”
You came through the youth system at Stevenage before spending time at Queens Park Rangers. What did you learn from those experiences?
“The biggest thing I learned at Stevenage was that you have to be mentally strong. You need resilience because things can change so quickly in football.
“From my time as a scholar at Stevenage through to my first year at QPR, I learned the importance of patience and controlling your emotions.
“When you are young, you do not always understand why certain things happen or why things do not go your way. You might play one week and not the next. You gradually learn how to deal with those situations as you mature.
“Now, at the age I am, I understand why I had to go through certain experiences at Stevenage and QPR. They helped shape me into the person I am today.
“I am still not the person I want to become, but those experiences are helping me develop. Hopefully, over the next two, three, four, or five years, I will continue to grow.
“Football comes with ups and downs. What I have learned is to enjoy the good times and learn from the difficult ones, because the downs do not last forever. Everything I have experienced has helped mould me into the person I am today.”
You made a big move to Irish League Champions Larne after playing around 65 games for Torquay United, but injuries interrupted your progress in Northern Ireland. How frustrating was that setback?
“I played almost 65 games for Torquay in the National League, which earned me the move to Larne, who were in European football at the time.
“Unfortunately, while at Larne, I suffered an MCL injury which set me back, and I was not able to make the impact at the club that I would have liked.”
Although you would never have wanted to get injured, you have previously said that the experience changed you as a person and an athlete. What did you learn from it?
“When I speak to people about my injury, I tell them that, although I am not happy it happened, in some ways I am glad it did because it created a different person.
“When I got injured, I learned a lot about myself and my body. I learned what I could and could not do, and I learned about rehabilitation, nutrition, and sleep. All those things are essential parts of the recovery process.
“I do not want to sound negative, but I feel the injury happened for a reason. If it had never happened, perhaps I would not have the mindset I have today.
“It made me realise how important it is to look after my body, fuel it properly, and go to the gym four or five times a week. The injury helped me become the athlete I am today because I understand that I need to be strong in every area to maintain my fitness.
“I wanted to learn more about the gym and understand my body better. Thankfully, I have not had any injuries since then, and I am feeling healthy and fit.”
Finally, Ali, you are 27 and arguably approaching your peak years. How excited are you about the next stage of your career, both at club level and with Somalia?
“I have told my friends and family that I feel I could play until I am 40. I look after my body, pay close attention to what I eat and make sure I get to the gym regularly.
“My injury taught me that these things are essential for a footballer. I know I am doing well, but I also know I can do better. I have set myself short-, medium-, and long-term targets.
“With Somalia, the goal is to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. If we do not manage it this time, I genuinely believe we can achieve it in the future.
“You can see the development within the national team. We are bringing in better players, and people who have not previously been called up are showing an interest because of the results we have been achieving.
“We have World Cup qualifiers coming up, and one of the things I love about football is that you never know what can happen. Anyone can beat anyone on their day.
“Nobody would have predicted that little Somalia would take Ivory Coast to the 90th minute at 0-0. That shows what is possible.
“Hopefully, in the near future, we can qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and potentially the World Cup.
“At club level, my ambition is to reach the highest level possible. Whether that is within the SPFL, English football, or another league in Europe, I want to give myself the best possible chance of getting there.
“I want to know that I have given everything I possibly can to achieve my goals. If I never reach that level, I want to be able to look back and say I did my very best. If I do get there, I will know I deserve it because I have put in the hard work.
“For me, that is the most important thing.”
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