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John Woods \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS files<\/p>\n
Redha Kramdi (right) grew up in Montreal as one of four children of hard-working immigrant parents.<\/p>\n
As the son of Algerian immigrants, Kramdi learned at a young age what real pressure looks like. The family was situated in a rough area of Montreal and his parents worked two, sometimes three jobs to provide a better life for their four kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that\u2019s stressful. Me playing football and having to know where (Als receiver) Tyler Snead is lined up and what coverage I need to call, that\u2019s not pressure,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not the same thing as having four kids and doing your best to make sure you can pay rent and have clothes and food.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was always one parent around, but rarely both. It got to a point where when Kramdi was eight or nine years old he asked his dad if the whole family was ever going to sit down together for a meal.<\/p>\n
That question hit his father, Madani, hard. He was working for a cleaning company and two jobs as a cook but decided to dial it back after that.<\/p>\n
\u201c(Football\u2019s) not a job. That\u2019s the biggest thing I took from my parents,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel bad, it\u2019s 2:30 p.m., and after this interview, I\u2019m going to take a shower, then go home. I feel bad because my parents worked their whole life super late. So, that would be the biggest thing, which installed a good work ethic in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s regular season finale in Montreal was the first time Kramdi\u2019s mother Fatima had seen him play live because of all her hours working. He played university ball at home for the Montreal Carabins, but she was often scheduled on night shifts and weekends.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d try to record the games and watch them after clocking out \u2014 even though she didn\u2019t really understand anything about the gridiron game.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for mom, her son is an ideal person to learn from.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a football junkie. You can call Redha at 10 o\u2019clock at night and if you have a football question, he\u2019s gonna answer the phone and probably talk your ear off for an hour,\u201d said defensive tackle Jake Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just loves the game and plays it the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019s getting the hang of it now and will be among those in the stands on Saturday rooting for the Blue and Gold.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mom is a big fan of Zach (Collaros) and (Nic) Demski. So, when we go win, hopefully she can get a little picture with them,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n
The Bombers have surrendered the fewest points in the CFL and Kramdi, a fifth-year pro, has his fingerprints all over the unit\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
\u201cRedha\u2019s contributions cannot be overstated. He\u2019s an extension of me on the field,\u201d said Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has the best understanding of what we do. There\u2019s not one position on the field he doesn\u2019t understand front or back\u2026 There\u2019s so much value he brings that you\u2019d never recognize because it\u2019s just his voice doing the work and not necessarily his body, but he\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n
You could argue it should be a special weekend for Kramdi, a chance to take a step back and realize how far he and his family have come.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll enjoy dinner with his loved ones Friday night, but when he wakes up Saturday, it\u2019s all business.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, it\u2019s playoffs, win or go home, but at the end of the day, it\u2019s the same old,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s game day, even my family knows I\u2019m locked in. I\u2019m boring, I just don\u2019t talk. I don\u2019t allow myself to feel these emotions, I\u2019m just trying to stay steady and emotionless as possible to go out there and play well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll have his hands full with Als quarterback Davis Alexander, and a deep receiver room that Kramdi believes is the best in the league that features Snead, Tyson Philpot and Austin Mack.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also the fact no crossover team has ever successfully won back-to-back road playoff games to make it to the Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t even care, to be honest. I didn\u2019t even know that,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, when ball is down and the referee blows the whistle, it\u2019s 12-on-12, all bets are off and may the best one win.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I\u2019ve prepared well, I\u2019m just going in with a clear mind and trying to enjoy playing the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
DEMSKI UPDATE <\/p>\n
The Bombers have listed star receiver Nic Demski as doubtful for Saturday\u2019s playoff game with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n
\t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t Demski suffered the setback on Oct. 11 in Edmonton and hasn\u2019t practised since.<\/p>\n Fellow Manitoba Bisons product Gavin Cobb, who has six catches for 51 yards in four games this season, will likely start in his place.<\/p>\n As expected, backup quarterback Chris Streveler has been officially ruled out with a knee injury. Streveler went down on a non-contact play five minutes into last week\u2019s 19-10 win at home over the Als to close out the season. Terry Wilson will move up to the No. 2 spot behind Zach Collaros and handle short-yardage duties.<\/p>\n The Bombers travelled to Montreal on Thursday.<\/p>\n taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
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