Faride Alidou’s Homecoming to the Volksparkstadion
Faride Alidou, a 23-year-old native of Hamburg, departed his hometown club Hamburger SV (HSV) in 2022 with aspirations of fulfilling his Bundesliga dreams elsewhere. After stints with Eintracht Frankfurt, 1. FC Köln, and Hellas Verona in Italy, he now finds himself at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. This Friday evening (6:30 PM CET/Sky), he will make his return to the Volksparkstadion as his new club faces HSV in a top-of-the-table clash in Bundesliga 2.
Prior to his departure, Alidou had expressed his desire to establish himself as a regular starter in the Bundesliga. However, only during his time at Köln did he consistently feature in the lineup. There, he played alongside current HSV striker Davie Selke, who he affectionately refers to as "a big brother" to him.
Reflecting on his decision to leave HSV, Alidou admitted that if he could go back in time, he would have made the move two years later. "In between, I regretted leaving HSV," he confided in the "Hamburger Morgenpost."
Despite his previous regrets, Alidou insists that his time away from Hamburg was beneficial for his development. "I learned a lot, both on and off the pitch," he explained. "I met great people, and I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had."
Now, as he prepares to return to the Volksparkstadion for the first time as an opponent, Alidou is hoping for a warm reception from the HSV faithful. "I know that the HSV fans were a bit upset with me before I left," he acknowledged. "I hope that they don’t hold it against me anymore and will treat me with respect on Friday."
Alidou recognizes the significance of the match for both himself and his current club, 1. FC Kaiserslautern. "It’s a very special game for me, and it’s also a big game for Kaiserslautern," he said. "We want to show that we can compete with the top teams in the league."
Despite his departure from HSV, Alidou still holds the club in high esteem. "HSV will always have a place in my heart," he declared. "It’s the club where I grew up, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I was given there."
While he understands that some HSV fans may not have been pleased with his decision to leave, Alidou hopes that they will respect his choice. "I made the decision that I thought was best for my career at the time," he explained. "I hope that the fans can understand that."
Looking ahead to Friday’s encounter, Alidou is confident in his team’s ability to challenge HSV. "We have a good team, and we’re playing with a lot of confidence," he said. "We know it will be a difficult game, but we’re prepared to give it our all."
Whether or not the HSV fans welcome Alidou back with open arms remains to be seen. However, one thing is for certain: the returning prodigy is determined to make his mark on the match and help his current club secure a positive result.
