Al-Jazeera player Simon Banza confirmed that he did receive offers to move to the Russian league during the last winter transfer window. He explained that he handled the matter with the club's management calmly and transparently before it was settled that he would continue with "Pride of Abu Dhabi". Banza emphasized his great happiness in continuing his journey with the team and his desire to give his all to achieve victories and please the fans. Banza told "Al Ittihad" that he will give his all with Al-Jazeera in the upcoming period, adding: "Yes, there were official contacts from a Russian club, and that is natural for any player who performs well, but from the first moment, I laid out all the details before the club's management, and we discussed the offer with complete clarity, and there was mutual respect in the way we discussed, which reflects the professionalism with which things are managed within the club." He continued: "In the end, we agreed that my staying is the best option at this stage, both for the club, which showed full confidence in my abilities, and for me because I am convinced that my presence here represents an important step in my career, especially as I feel stability and support from everyone." Banza added: "I am very happy to be in Abu Dhabi, and I feel that I am part of a clear and ambitious project, so the decision was not difficult for me. Football is full of offers and opportunities, but the most important thing is to choose the place that gives you trust and continuity." Regarding the team's ambitions in the upcoming stage, Banza said: "We at Al-Jazeera only think about winning every match we play, this is the club's mentality and history. We don't care about standings as much as we care about maintaining the spirit of victory in every encounter, because that is the identity we were raised on inside the dressing room." He pointed out that winning the last two matches against Al-Wahda and Sharjah was a special moment for the team, explaining that breaking a negative streak of results in the derby against Al-Wahda, along with winning 5-0 against a big team like Sharjah, gave the players a huge morale boost, and that such victories confirm the strength of the group and their mental toughness, especially when they come in matches with a popular character and multiplied pressure. Banza also confirmed that he is satisfied with his technical level, but at the same time, he always seeks to develop and present the best, explaining that any player needs stability and trust to show their real potential, which he currently finds within the team. He stressed that the upcoming stage requires doubling the effort, especially with the intensification of competition, and that the focus will be on collecting as many points as possible and moving forward steadily. Banza concluded his talk by confirming his gratitude to the club's fans who support the team in all circumstances, pointing out that their support represents an additional motivator for the players to present the best they have, and that the common goal is to continue writing new chapters of success with the Al-Jaira shirt in the upcoming period. Simon Banza: "I am very happy to be in Abu Dhabi, and I feel that I am part of a clear and ambitious project."
