MONTREAL – When Redha Kramdi isn’t delivering the kind of hellacious hits he’s known for on the football field, you can usually catch him smiling about something.

Note that these two cases are not always mutually exclusive, as Kramdi, the strong linebacker for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, enjoys fewer things than delivering a crushing free kick on an opponent.

His zest for life extends well beyond sport, and although football has given him most of what he has today, and for that he is grateful, one has the feeling that Kramdi would take a lot of pleasure in whatever he chose to do.

“There is nothing to be sad about,” Kramdi told Free press Friday. “We are alive. We breathe. I have a roof over my head, food to eat. And I can play football for a living. I should be grateful every morning. There’s no reason not to smile.

It’s a perspective on life that Kramdi says he got from his parents. Family has been the one constant for him, providing him with the kind of loving and supportive environment that makes him truly appreciate every day.

Kramdi describes her mother, Fatima, as a real prankster, always looking to have a good time and laugh in everything she does. As for his father, Madani, Kramdi said it is his wisdom that he values ​​most, having traveled the world and faced his share of adversity.

Both immigrated to Canada from Algeria, with Kramdi’s father arriving in Quebec when he was in his 30s, and his mother arriving a few years later. His father grew up poor in Algiers as a young boy at the time of the War of Independence (1952-62), his father and one of his brothers being killed before the war’s end.

“You could find work when you returned home, but you would not be able to have a job good enough to support the family, even today in Algeria,” Kramdi said. “Being able to come here, have a job as a cook and be able to provide for his family, for him, that was his dream.”

Both of his parents worked multiple jobs, with Kramdi’s father working during the day and his mother at night, to support himself and his brother Sami, as well as their two sisters, Nesrine and Aya.

Kramdi grew up in a tough neighborhood in southwest Montreal, where it was not uncommon to find yourself caught up in drugs or the gang lifestyle. His parents showered him with love and to keep him out of trouble, they pushed him to play sports.

“We saw what we saw, but we knew the difference between right and wrong because we had that kind of love at home,” Kramdi said. “Others weren’t so lucky. A lot of people didn’t finish school, but it was important to us.

Kramdi said he played a lot of basketball growing up, but often committed fouls outside of games. Football was the perfect blend of skill and physicality that Kramdi always needs.

It wasn’t until the 10th grade that Kramdi started playing the game, moving from the arts school he attended to Dalbé-Viau high school, where there was a football program. His parents had one condition: If he wanted to play football, he had to maintain good grades.

With an average in the 80s, Kramdi was accepted to the University of Montreal, where he played for the Carabins. It was his first or second year there that he realized he could play football professionally and began aiming for a career in the CFL.

Kramdi did not complete his studies in business administration, including a specialization in computer science. He only needs five or six credits, which he makes up by taking classes during the offseason.

His hard work on the football field finally paid off in 2021, as Kramdi was selected by the Bombers with the 16th overall pick. Playing primarily on special teams in his first three seasons, Kramdi is in his first year as a starter and is making waves across the league.

“His potential is very high. This year we got a glimpse of what he can become as a dominant and essential player in this league,” said Bombers veteran linebacker Shayne Gauthier. “I’m sure he will be considered a star player this year. He might not have the best stats or as many tackles or interceptions as the others, but he’s always in the right place at the right time, and people certainly know that on other teams too.

Having grown up nearby, Saturday’s game against the Alouettes promises to be special. Kramdi said he had about 30 friends in his family, including his mother and father, for what will be the first time his mother will see him perform live.

There will be a missing person, although Kramdi knows that his late brother Sami, who died suddenly shortly after being enlisted, will be watching over him. Kramdi said his brother was his biggest fan and no one was happier with his successes in life, something he has now emphasized in his own life, the importance of giving his family the time and attention it deserves.

“What I’m most excited about is taking photos with the whole family after the game,” Kramdi said. “And my mom, as long as she’s in the stands having fun with my family and my siblings and my friends, laughing and smiling, that’s all that matters, for real.”

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Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative journalist. Jeff joined the Free press editorial office in April 2015 and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University with a journalism degree in 2012. Learn more about Jeff.

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