“Yanis Sheikhawi: From Barcelona’s Streets to Spain’s Soccer Spotlight – A Journey of Talent, Faith, and National Pride”
FootAll.Net has reached out to interview the Algerian mother creating a buzz. Hayat Sheikhawi, the mother of Yanis, emphasizes that Yanis is a true Algerian, and his love for the homeland is not tied to football. She explains that Yanis, her son, is a devout and committed Muslim, expressing love for both Algeria and Spain. She adds that their support for him knows no bounds.
Yanis is recognized as one of the young talents in Spain and a future star. He recently led the Spanish U19 national team in the European qualifiers in Georgia, scoring two goals. Hayat expresses her fondness for Sudanese people through her genuine connection with the Sudanese engineer Sami Abdel-Moneim Mustafa, who has supported this dialogue initiative from its inception.
Born in Barcelona in January 2005, Yanis showed early promise in football. His uncle Amin Sheikhawi, witnessing his talent during a school competition, urged his family to nurture Yanis’s exceptional abilities. They enrolled him in a nearby club at the age of five, and from there, he progressed through different clubs in Cornella, Barcelona, and Espanyol.
At the age of 15, Real Betis from Andalusia, alongside Girona and Espanyol, showed interest in Yanis. His choice of Real Betis over Barcelona clubs is attributed to the club’s distinctiveness and elegance. He received a call-up to the Algerian U17 national team, but due to global pandemic challenges, he couldn’t join.
When he turned 18, Yanis faced a challenging decision: whether to play for the Algerian U20 team or the Spanish U19 team. After extensive discussions and consideration of his football career’s future, the family collectively chose for him to play for the Spanish team. Despite his deep love for Algeria, Yanis aimed for greater development in European football, believing it offers more opportunities for growth.
Currently playing for the Spanish U19 team, Yanis returned from participating in Euro qualifiers, scoring two goals and featuring prominently in three matches. Despite his young age, he has been called up to Real Betis B, and a call-up to the first team is expected soon.
Yanis is fluent in Spanish, proficient in French and English, and speaks Algerian Arabic. Despite efforts to teach him Arabic, the demands of football and continuous training camps have weakened his Arabic proficiency. Yanis plans to study Arabic after completing his bachelor’s degree.
Describing him as religious and committed, Hayat mentions Yanis’s dedication to prayer and fasting during Ramadan. Some Algerians on social media criticized Yanis for choosing to play for Spain, but many understand his decision, acknowledging that patriotism transcends football. The Algerian Consul in Spain supported Yanis, appreciating his position.
An upcoming interview with Yanis is promised to provide further insights. Gratitude is extended for the connection, with warm regards to the Sudanese people, especially to the respected Sami Abdel-Moneim Mustafa.
