By Damir Kulas

He has been one of the standout players of the opening couple of months of the 2015 NPL season, and Port Melbourne Sharks livewire Kamal Ibrahim has had his efforts rewarded by winning the Player of the Month Award for March.

Four goals in ten appearances for the club so far this season has seen the former Melbourne Heart give the Sharks an attacking edge up forward as they look to cement themselves inside the top six.

“Look obviously we started the season really well, I myself had a good pre-season so I felt really good with the team and structure we had in place," Ibrahim said.

“We did well in 2013 but last season we struggled, and so far this season we have started off well so we are just focusing on doing well in order to get to the finals.”

The lively speedster has nine goals to his name over the course of four seasons in Victorian football, with short spells with South Melbourne and Heidelberg United included, Ibrahim made regular goalscoring a target for himself this year around.

“I did not have many shots at goal last season so I told myself that if I get chances on goal this time around, to have a pop and yeah they’ve gone in so I’m pretty happy with that," he said.

Ibrahim, 22, is into his third season with the Sharks, a club which has special significance for the Ethiopia-born attacking midfielder.

“Port is a good club and they were my first junior club when I came to Australia (in 2003) as they were close to my house and coming back here in 2013 after a while was good for me as they have been very good for me," he said.

A talented youngster, Ibrahim progressed through the VIS under Mehmet Durakovic before spending time in Canberra with the AIS and the Joeys.

A move to the then-newly formed Melbourne Heart eventuated with Ibrahim spending two years with the Red and Whites making a total four appearances.

“Obviously I wanted to play in a professional set up and spent two years with the AIS before receiving that offer from Heart as a 17 year-old,” he said.

However he is not giving up hope on the possibility of another A-League gig, withIbrahim determined to get back into the professional environment at some stage in the near future.

“The move came at the right time for me under a good coach and system to play in and unluckily it did not work out then, but I have not given up on my dream to get back into the A-League,” he said.

But for now, Ibrahim has his sights firmly focused on Port, determined to play his part for the Sharks as they attempt to seal a top six birth come seasons end.