INTERVIEW: Al Tai hotshot Bernard Mensah on life, faith and Cristiano Ronaldo

Bernard Mensah has been something of a revelation in this season’s Roshn Saudi League.

The Ghanaian, who signed for Al Tai last summer having spent the previous six years in Turkey, has scored 14 goals in 28 RSL appearances, proving integral to the club’s chances of staying in the Saudi Arabian top flight.

With two Matchweeks remaining, Al Tai sit one spot and two points above the relegation zone, but they will know their fight for survival meets a major challenge in Matchweek 33, when they travel to newly crowned champions Al Hilal.

After that, Al Tai bring down the curtain at home to Al Okhdood, a potentially crucial encounter given Noureddine Ben Zekri’s side sit one spot below them in the standings.

If Al Tai are to avoid the drop, they will likely need another telling contribution from Mensah, who notched a vital double in the last game against Al Fateh.

We sat down with Mensah, the RSL's Player of the Month for November, to discuss life away from football, the key to happiness, and what makes the prolific 29-year-old tick.

On his outlook on life

“My favourite moral is to believe in God and also to believe in everything that you do. My favourite quality of a man is to be discipled and focused on what he wants to achieve.”

On being happy outside football

“My idea about happiness is to be with my friends and family, and also playing video games. I think maybe I’m a bit boring sometimes, but with my friends it’s different.”

On his biggest fear

“For me, my greatest fear is, one, God. And, second, I’m not scared of anything. My main quality is the gift god gave me for football.”

On his motto for life

“My favourite motto in life is to achieve all I need to achieve in my life and to take care of my kids.”

On his biggest footballing idol

“Cristiano Ronaldo.”

On his favourite place in the Kingdom

“My favourite place to go out in Saudi is I think Riyadh. Riyadh and this mountain close to us - I think Cristiano was there - AlUla.”

The full interview with Mensah can be accessed here: