PILGRIMS’ PALS EYE PROMOTION
Addicks Tareiq and Zak are friends reunited
TAREIQ Holmes-Dennis and Zak Ansah are almost inseparable. Having played together at Sunday league level, and for Charlton’s U21s, they now embark on Plymouth’s play-off quest desperate to deliver another dazzling double act.
Full-back Holmes-Dennis, 19, is fresh from opening his professional scoring account last weekend in the 3-2 victory against Tranmere, a result which confirmed the Pilgrims’ place in the top seven of League Two.
Striker Ansah, who turns 21 tomorrow, has found goals harder to come by since joining HolmesDennis on loan at Home Park at the end of March. The former Arsenal prodigy scored on his debut against Cheltenham but, prior to this weekend, had endured a six-game drought.
Holmes-Dennis isn’t worried, though. The pair – both on temporary deals from Charlton – live together in the South West and have known each other since they were learning their craft for Sydenham Sports as kids.
Grown
And England U18 international Holmes-Dennis insists the duo can combine once more to help secure Plymouth’s promotion to League One.
“I’ve really enjoyed this season, I feel like I’ve grown as a player and a person,” said Holmes-Dennis, who made 17 appearances for Oxford before joining the Pilgrims in February.
“I’ve been living away from home, which is tough to adjust to at first, but it helps having Zak living with me, and Jason Banton.
“I lived away while I was at Oxford earlier in the season but it was a lot closer to home, whereas here I’m away for about a month at a time.
“Zak has been great. He’s a couple of years older than me but we have known each other for ages.
“It all started when we were about six or seven years old. He then moved to Arsenal and I went to Charlton when I was eight. We’re good friends, you could say we’ve been reunited twice – at Charlton and now at Plymouth.
“We never won anything when we played for Sydenham, so it would be nice to get Plymouth up.
“The is a big club, it’s been in the Championship not so long ago so it deserves to be up there. It might take a while for them to get back to that level but I’m sure that’s the club’s ambition.
“We feel like we can beat anyone. League Two is so unpredictable that it’s probably true. We certainly back ourselves.”
Holmes-Dennis and Ansah will also back themselves to make an impression for the Addicks next term having watched fellow academy prospects such as Joe Gomez prosper.
Versatile 17-year-old defender Gomez has impressed at The Valley this season, so much so a Premier League scramble is reportedly being led by Arsenal for his services this summer.
Holmes-Dennis doesn’t begrudge his friend any success – indeed, he sees only positives from the fact youngsters are given a fair crack of the whip at his parent club.
Hope
“Being in the U21s at Charlton, the plan was to try and break through to the senior team but I can’t ask for much more than what I’ve achieved this season,” he added.
“It gives you hope to see the likes of Joe Gomez, Joe Piggott and Callum Harriott – guys I’ve known for a good few years – progressing and being given a chance to play.
“I’ve still got a long way to go, I’m still learning at this age but I’m getting great experience. The aim is definitely making it at Charlton, though.
“Joe, in particular, deserves all the praise he’s getting at the moment. He’s incredibly hardworking and, despite all the compliments, he’s still such a humble guy.
“He’s a great person and I’m sure he’s destined for great things. He’s taken the step up in his stride and I’m hoping to do something similar.”