In a exclusive interview with sportingreece.com, Olympiakos striker Lomana Lua Lua says that after a bad 2006, he is enjoying life in Greece and the smile is back on his face.

Lomana LuaLua caused something of a stir when he joined Olympiakos during the summer of 2007. For a start the Democratic Republic of Congo striker, who was brought up in London, was coming from the English Premiership after spells with Newcastle and Portsmouth. Second, he was only 26 years old, neither a new kid trying to make his name nor a veteran looking for a decent pension.

In this exclusive interview with sportingreece.com. LuaLua admits that the move to Greece was fired by a need to escape England after a bad year in 2006 when everything on and off the field seemed to go wrong - the lowpoint being the death of his baby son Jesus from pneumonia while he was away at the Africa Nations Cup.

But he says that life in Greece suits him and that the smile is now back on his face.

BS: So Lomana, not a bad start to the season. Olympiakos are up there in the title race and into the last 16 of the Champions League...

LL: Yes, although we started a little bit below par from what we are showing now. That happens when you have new players including me coming into the side. We have to get used to each other. But so far so good. Now we are enjoying each other's company, we love being around each other and that's what is paying off on the pitch.

BS: In the past we are used to seeing Olympiakos at the top of the domestic table but we are equally used to seeing them choking in Europe. This year, though, there seems to be more of an intenstity and focus about the side. What's changed?

LL: Well, you've got to give credit to the manager (Takis Lemonis) because at the end of the day it is him that picks the team. Not just the manager, the president (Socratis Kokkalis), the director of football Ilia (Ivic) for bringing in different players. It has helped to create a very good team spirit. And it is not in every club that you have 5,000 supporters following the team wherever they go - so that gives you an extra motivation to do well.

BS: But 31 games without a win in the Champions League before this season and now you have beaten both Bremen and Lazio away from Piraeus. What has happened?

LL: I can't really talk about previous teams - all I can say is that this team has a lot of character and determination. The Champions League is obviously one of the top tournaments around, certainly it's the top tournament for clubs and so we said we didn't want just to be a team that played in the group, we wanted to show that we really are good enough to be in the competition and be competitive.

BS: I read on your website (www.icons.com/lualua) that you hadn't come to Greece for an easy ride - how difficult has it been for you compared with England?

LL: Obviously, I grew up in England. That is my second or even my first home because that is where I grew up. The premiership is hard but then you only have to see how many Greek teams have been playing in Europe this year and it makes you realise how good the standard actually is here. Football is getting bigger. Greece won Euro 20004 so it is getting stronger and stronger.

In England the game is more physical but here it is more technique. They play football. Technically it is more skilled here. England is not so skills based. That's where I am trying to adapt. In England you have to be quicker and more attacking but coming here, you tend to let the football flow.

BS: How do the fans compare between Greece and England?

LL: You only have to come to Greece to experience it. I didn't know much about Greek football, I had played with a few Greeks but didn't know much about the state of the game here. Coming here, though, you discover that the fans are incredibly passionate, it's amazing.

BS: You're first official game for Olympiakos was the league opener against Panathinaikos at Apostolos Nikolaidis. How does that derby atmosphere compare with a derby in England?

LL: When I played in the Newcastle-Sunderland derby, I thought nothing can be bigger than this but here, I don't know, it is amazing. It's crazy here, crazy. In a way it is more personal. I have never been to a stadium where none of your supporters are there - only their supporters. And every time you touch the ball they really bawl at you. It's strange but it's exciting too. It's pressure and they always say that pressure should bring the best out of you.

BS: For a long time now Greece has been a kind of backwater in European football. Young players - like say Yaya Toure - would use it as a stepping stone into a major league or older players such as Rivaldo would come here at the end of their careers. But you were 26 when you signed, just coming into the prime of your career - so my question is: why come to Greece?

LL: As you say, I was 26, still young. I had a lot of issues going on. The loss of my kid, I had an attack of malaria that took me out of football, I got injured and I had problems with my fiancée. A lot of things had been happening and I just wanted to get out, start a new fresh life. I had offers from Spanish clubs. But I didn't want to go for the money, I wanted to go to a club where I thought I could enjoy my football. And when I came here I felt really wanted. The fact they had Champions League football helped but it just felt right. It is good to join a club that has the habit of winning because that is what I want to do. Not just play a game of football every week but win things.

What I didn't know about was the fans who have been magnificent. Fortunately, I have always been blessed because ever since I started at Colchester, I have always had a good relationship with the fans. At Newcastle, I was loved by the fans and the same at Portsmouth.

BS: Will you stay?

LL: I am here today but you never know where I could be tomorrow - at the moment I am just enjoying my football and enjoying life. I have got the smile back on my face that I didn't have last year. For the moment that is enough.

BS: How easy has it been to settle into Greek life off the field?

LL: I am lucky because I knew (Olympiakos teammate) Didier Domi from Newcastle. And I know Nikos Dabizas from there as well so we see each other when he comes to Athens. The manager (Lemonis) is very nice and helpful and so are the players. I think I am an easy person and I make friends easily. I am basically a happy person and fun to be around. Don't get me wrong, I do get homesick sometimes, I miss my family, my friends, I miss England. But sometimes in life you have to move on - and I feel that I am learning here and becoming a better footballer. People say I have adapted really well but in life you have to avoid being someone who just sits there waiting for something to happen. That's what my parents taught me - to make things happen. So that's what I am trying to do.

BS: I notice you still do all of your post-match interviews in English - so how is your Greek coming on?

LL: Ligo ligo. Not too bad. I can say hello and things like that - but ask me again in three months time and I will be speaking in Greek.

BS: And when it comes to Saturday afternoon, which results do you look out for first?

LL: The three teams I always look out for are Colchester, Newcastle and Portsmouth because they are the ones that gave me a chance, plus my little brother is at Newcastle so I am hoping that he is going to get a chance to show what he can do for the first team.

BS: I always get the impression that you had a special relationship with (Portsmouth coach) Harry Redknapp who said some very warm things about you when you left the club.

LL: Harry was always very supportive. And Portsmouth played a big part in life, they gave me a chance when I was going through a rough time...

But you know when you are a kid living in your father's house, sometimes you want to experience life outside. When you are there you have to live by your parents' rules. Sometimes you won't agree with everything they say and that leaves you no choice - you've got to move out. I love Harry, I have too much respect for him, he was good to me. The last day I was there I went in to thank him for everything he had done. He understood that I needed to move. A lot of people remember the bad things rather than the good but I have very good memories because of what he did and I respect him for that.

BS: 2006 a traumatic year for you professionally and personally - I read on your website "it seems the devil is always trying to get God's child. It seems like people were always trying to bring me down but they will never catch me"...Was 2007 an improvement?

LL: I am happier now. I have learned to appreciate life. I have learned that you can have all the money but health is more important than anything else. If you are not healthy then you can't play football, if you are not healthy you can't work. The first thing in life is to make sure you are healthy so that you can do the job you want to do. Once you have the support of the family, then that's it. I am much happier now and enjoying my football. It's a good team, the manager's good, the players like each other, no one hates anyone else, the fans are good - things are well. I am happy. By God's grace it will just keep getting batter.

BS: And your wishes for 2008?

LL: To keep playing good football, to stay injury free and a good run for Olympiakos.

BS: And a Champions League final in Moscow?

LL....(laughs) well, obviously that would be the best thing of all.