By George it's Cairo
Posted on: Tue 17 Jul 2007
New Sky Blues star Ellery Cairo is hoping to take a leaf out of a City old boy's book as he bids to make an impression at the Ricoh Arena.
The Dutch winger, signed in a double-deal along with defender Arjan De Zeeuw recently, is desperate to make the grade in England after leaving German giants Hertha Berlin on a free transfer.
And he hopes to follow in the foot-steps of former City and Holland midfielder George Boateng in forging a successful career in his new surroundings.
Boateng, now at Middlesbrough, joined the Sky Blues under Gordon Strachan in 1997 for just £250,000 from Feyenoord, making an immediate impression before a controversial £4.5 million move to Aston Villa.
"I played for two seasons at Hertha Berlin but I didn't play as much as I would have liked last season and thought it was best for me to move on to try and find regular football," Cairo told Sky Blues World.
"My agent came up with Coventry and the decision was easy to make. I have always liked English football and it has always been an ambition of mine to play over here.
"I knew that Coventry were in the top league in England for a long time and are trying very hard to get back there.
"But I also knew George Boateng, who used to play for my old team Feyenoord, used to play here.
"Like me, when he came to Coventry he wasn't very well known, but he has done really well for himself since and it would be really great if I could go on and do something similar."
At 28, manager Iain Dowie believes in Cairo, he's captured a player who will provide a much-needed width to his side, and the Dutchman feels his direct and pacey style of right wing-play will help him adjust to the Championship.
He added: "I think I can adapt to the English game, we will have to wait and see about that but I think I have the ability to help the team out by creating some goals.
"At first the training was very hard for me and I had some problems at the beginning where I was finishing a session hardly able to walk!
"But now I'm getting used to it and I think it will be quite good for my fitness when the games start."
The Dutch winger, signed in a double-deal along with defender Arjan De Zeeuw recently, is desperate to make the grade in England after leaving German giants Hertha Berlin on a free transfer.
And he hopes to follow in the foot-steps of former City and Holland midfielder George Boateng in forging a successful career in his new surroundings.
Boateng, now at Middlesbrough, joined the Sky Blues under Gordon Strachan in 1997 for just £250,000 from Feyenoord, making an immediate impression before a controversial £4.5 million move to Aston Villa.
"I played for two seasons at Hertha Berlin but I didn't play as much as I would have liked last season and thought it was best for me to move on to try and find regular football," Cairo told Sky Blues World.
"My agent came up with Coventry and the decision was easy to make. I have always liked English football and it has always been an ambition of mine to play over here.
"I knew that Coventry were in the top league in England for a long time and are trying very hard to get back there.
"But I also knew George Boateng, who used to play for my old team Feyenoord, used to play here.
"Like me, when he came to Coventry he wasn't very well known, but he has done really well for himself since and it would be really great if I could go on and do something similar."
At 28, manager Iain Dowie believes in Cairo, he's captured a player who will provide a much-needed width to his side, and the Dutchman feels his direct and pacey style of right wing-play will help him adjust to the Championship.
He added: "I think I can adapt to the English game, we will have to wait and see about that but I think I have the ability to help the team out by creating some goals.
"At first the training was very hard for me and I had some problems at the beginning where I was finishing a session hardly able to walk!
"But now I'm getting used to it and I think it will be quite good for my fitness when the games start."
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