Who Is Captain America?

ome may not know the name Tashreeq Matthews, but the teenager from Cape Town has already developed a bit of a name for himself in Europe and – after celebrating his 18th birthday – has now landed a deal with one of Germany’s biggest clubs. The attacker, formerly of Ajax Cape Town, is now officially contracted to Borussia Dortmund and will be playing in the UEFA Youth League for their U19s this season. Soccer Laduma’s Joe Crann had a chat with the South African youth international as he opened up about his tumultuous exit from the Urban Warriors, his hopes and fears in Germany and living with Bundesliga wonderkid, Christian Pulisic.

JC: Great to hear! And do you think it’s important to have left at your age, rather than in your 20s like a lot of other South Africans seem to be doing these days?

TM: For me, it’s better and more important if you move early in your career when you’re younger, because you don’t really have a lot of responsibilities to take care of. You can just focus on your football and doing the best that you can.

JC: So how does it work now? Are you with a host family or staying with the club?

TM: At the moment, I’m living at the youth house of the club, that’s for the guys who are under 18 mainly, but it’s also for some of the guys who live far from Dortmund. They give you a choice – you can be in the youth house or at a guest house too. It’s really nice and the guys in there is really together. I’ve had no problems and everyone’s been really welcoming. JC: And what has been your biggest lesson so far since you started working with the club? TM: I think the main thing I’ve learnt so far is that I have to adapt as soon as possible. The life-

For those who don’t know, Captain America is a cartoon character created by the legendary Stan Lee – a comic book genius who sadly passed away on Monday – during World War II. In the comics, Captain America is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, a willing but physically flawed human who is experimented upon by the US government to become an almost perfect soldier.

Christian Pulisic, now arguably the most talented young American footballer in the world, has been branded “Captain America” because of his ability on the field and help . style compared to back home in South Africa is different because they don’t really do a lot of the things we do that side. They have a different way of doing things. JC: In what sense? TM: In South Africa, sometimes the guys are really not sure if they’re going to make it or not. Some of them have in the back of their minds that they don’t know if they will be the one who makes it as a footballer or not. In Europe, everyone has the mentality of them being the one. They drive each other on. JC: Ah, ok… TM: On the pitch, though, I think the key lesson is to be consistent. Be consistent all the time... that’s crucial. I know that I need to always work hard, keep doing my best and give it my all.

JC: It’s still early for you in Europe, and at Dortmund, but have you started setting yourself any goals yet?

TM: My first goal is to settle in on the pitch. I need to up my game be- cause in recent months I haven’t been getting any game e time due to the court cases with Ajax x (Cape Town).Town) Now it’s about making the most of any game time I get and settling in on the field as soon as possible.

JC: Do you think the situation at Ajax held you back at all?

TM: Look, I’ve been training, so I don’t think it’s set me back with that side of my fitness. But with my match sharpness and all of that, I think that’s affected me a lot. I can tell on the field from the time that I’ve had with Dortmund so far, but I’m playing now and it’s getting better. JC: Good news. TM: Sometimes it’s frustrating because you can feel it. You can feel it in training and on matchday because it’s way different. You can stand out in training, but in a match, the intensity and everything is different. Sometimes I get frustrated because sometimes I’m a bit off the pace due to the lack of minutes I’ve got compared to the other boys. I’m working on that.

JC: With regards to the club, have they said whether they have any expectations of you now that you’ve arrived?

TM: I don’t think they have any immediate expectations. They just want me to settle in and get my minutes. They want me to be consistent. My coach has told me a couple of times that they like my dribbling and work 1 v 1 – they say that’s one of my strong points. That’s something good that they’ve seen that they want Position: Midfielder Club: Borussia Dortmund me to show.

JC: Tashreeq, you’ve come a long way from being that kid with a dream to signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs while still a teenager, but where did it all begin for you?

TM: It all started for me at home with my father, who also played football. I have an older brother as well, and we’re a family of boys who just wanted to play. It all started in the house. I’m from Hanover Park in the Cape Flats and it’s really tough because you see all of your friends having talent as footballers, but having problems and wrong things happening around them. Luckily for me, with the help of my father and my brother, I’ve been able to be dedicated and follow my dream. I could get past the negativity around me. JC: We’re glad that you did, we’d imagine Dortmund are too! TM: Also, seeing guys like Benni (McCarthy) and Haashim ( Domingo) coming from Hanover Park, they’ve gone on to achieve things and that helped fuel my dedication. I love football, I play for the passion of it and it’s also my career. I’ve been playing since I was three years old. Ever since then I’ve just wanted to become better at football. JC: But who’s better? You, your dad or your brother? (Laughs) TM: My brother is still a bit hardheaded! In terms of skills, he’s definitely better than me! ( Laughs). He’s taught me a lot, but most of the game I’ve learnt from my father. I think from Lance ( Davids) and my (Germany) Previous clubs: Rygersdal, family I’ve also got a lot of advice.advice They’ve told me to keep doing my best, but the main thing they preach is to be consistent. You have to be consistent in training, in matches, at all times.

JC: Consistency is key, but what about the language? Are you learning German?

TM: I’m learning the language, but I speak Afrikaans – it was my first language in school – so I understand and relate to most of the things they say in German just with a bit of a difference. It’s easier for me to learn the language and I think that will help me.

JC: Does it help seeing the big-name senior players around you? Have you spent much time with any of them yet?

TM: I’ve spent a lot of time with Captain America, Christian Pulisic (laughs). He’s part of the Dortmund family and that’s how we started interacting together. I was even living at his place for a while the first time I went over. He’s a guy that I’ve been learning from. JC: That’s not a bad role model! TM: He’s been giving me lots of advice, but the one thing that he’s stressed is that it’s tough being away from family, but as long as I do my best on the field and again, stay consistent, I can push on.

JC: Lastly, before we let you go, what is your biggest fear about your new chapter?

TM: My biggest fear is to go there and not play at all. That’s certainly my biggest fear. I can be there, but if I’m not playing then that would be hard. As long as I’m playing then I’ll be happy.

JC: Make it happen, Tashie! Thanks for your time and good luck.

TM: Thanks, Joe.