As Tottenham Hotspur gear up for their clash against Southampton this weekend, Showmax caught up with Senegalese star Pape Matar Sarr to chat about rise in the world of football.
The 22-year-old Senegalese midfielder discusses his journey to Spurs, his admiration for Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy and his unwavering commitment to his national team.
Here is what he had to say:
Tell us about your relationship with the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, as it must be amazing for you playing home matches in it?
Yes, it’s incredible. When you think of matches at Tottenham. The stadium is really amazing, as I’m used to saying, it’s unreal, just like in films. We’re lucky enough to be here, so we have to enjoy playing in this amazing stadium.
Tell us about the season so far. Are you happy with the team’s performances?
Yes. It’s not too bad, we are doing well; we’ve won a few matches, even if there were some difficult moments. But the season is long, so we are persevering and we are ready.
Let’s take a look back at your past and talk about your journey so far. Tell us about your childhood in Senegal. What was Pape Matar Sarr’s childhood like?
I was an ambitious young man because my childhood was like that of other kids who dreamt of being football players. There were times when I was at school and other times when I was playing football in my neighbourhood, this is where I started. I liked playing football, so it was natural; I always had a ball with me.
It was normal for me to call my friends to play football. But, yes, I was a little reserved, not very effusive. . . just like now, actually. I used to play a lot in my neighbourhood and even at home, in my mother’s bedroom. I used to kick the ball everywhere, so she wasn’t too happy with it.
You also come from a football family. Your dad coached; your brother played too. Tell us how important football was to your family?
Not only my father, but my whole family is involved in football. My grandparents, my uncles – everyone. My brother plays in Luxembourg as well. So, it’s normal that football became a cultural thing for us, so we had to play football. it was part of your daily life, part of your DNA. That is all I lived for. Even with my studies, as my dad was pushing me a bit, but he would rather give me football boots than books or pencils.
Were you good at school?
I was not too bad, but I was more focused on football.
Let’s talk about Génération Foot, your first club where things got serious. What did that club give you, and when did you start this journey?
I was already in the national team when they spotted me. Before going there, I was an international player with the u-17 team. They saw me playing for the u-17s and they wanted me to join their academy. They talked to my previous coaches, and my father too, as he’s involved in football. We had a few talks with them.
Well, at first, I didn’t want to, because back in Thiès, I liked it, I was with my family. I didn’t know that I needed to be supervised in order to get my break, that I needed to be supported and more serious, showing more professionalism, and Génération Foot helped me with that.
This experience was a good thing as it allowed me to become professional, to grow up at every level, and to understand what professionalism is. I became professional and I’m grateful for that.
Some great players came through that academy: Sadio Mané, Papiss Cissé, amongst others. Did it make the choice easier for you, knowing those guys went there before you?
Of course, when you hear that the academy coached Sadio Mané, Ismaïla Sarr, Diafra Sakho, it means something. At the time, Génération Foot and Diambars [fc] were my only options, to remain in Senegal anyway. I chose to join Génération Foot. Their organisation convinced me, so I went there to have more visibility, to work hard and achieve my goals.
Tell us about the time you arrived in Europe, at FC Metz
I signed for FC Metz when I was already at Génération Foot. Those clubs have a partnership, so when they spot a player, they make him sign a contract, but he has to turn 18 before joining FC Metz. As for me, I joined FC Metz when I turned 18. It was a good experience, as my coach was Antonetti.
FC Metz is also a club where Mané played. Did it encourage you to sign for the club?
Of course. Like I said, when you hear that Sadio Mané joins a club and especially if you’re from Senegal, as he’s a role model for us. He played for Metz, so I thought: “why not do the same? ” from Génération Foot to FC Metz, and then, he just exploded.
This was our dream too, and when you’re around the Génération Foot facilities, you will always hear people talk about his time there, as he went from Génération Foot to FC Metz. Abdoulaye Sarr also told me about the time Sadio was playing there. Ismaïla Sarr has had the same journey too so people talk a lot about those players.
Of course, it inspires you and motivates you to follow the same path. FC Metz has been a good step for me.
A good step, but a quick one, as Tottenham were quick to make their move. Tell us about your first contact with Tottenham. Did they come looking for you fairly quickly?
Yes, they came looking for me because, at the time, I was only focused on football. Like you said, I was at Metz, and it all happened so fast. I played one season and Tottenham and other clubs were knocking on my door.
I chose Tottenham because the club was well-organised, and their project convinced me, so I decided to go there. So, yes, it happened a bit too quickly, but in the end, it’s not too bad. I’ve waited for this moment for so long, was happy and satisfied because I thought that all the work, I had done was paying off. It was special, it was incredible.
Was it important for you, at that time, to stay a little longer at Metz, in order to keep adapting and improving your skills?
Yes, it was important because that was what I wanted at the time. I had started some work in Metz and I wanted to finish it. But it didn’t go the way I wanted because, unfortunately, the team got relegated to Ligue 2.
I really wanted to help the team reach the top 5 before leaving, that is why I wanted to stay another year before going to Tottenham. I wanted to be ready right at the start of the season. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I wanted.
Meanwhile, Tottenham hired a new coach and Antonio Conte was in the dugout. Did it change anything for you? Was it the same project they told you about?
Yes, because the director was still here, so the project remained the same. I went there with the same objectives and the same personal ambitions, so I was already ready to get to work, ready to help Tottenham and “earn my spurs”.
Can you tell us about Tottenham? About your first season there?
I don’t really like talking about my debut at Tottenham because it wasn’t easy. It was a season full of tough times. But like I told you; I was ready for that. I already told myself it wouldn’t be easy.
I had to work hard and every time I had the chance to play, even if it was five or ten minutes, I was trying to show what I could do. Back at Metz, I used to play every match, but at Tottenham, even being named in the match day squad was a luxury. It was complicated! But I’ve never stopped working, nor believing in myself because i knew that sooner or later, it would pay off.
Was the hardest thing not to play?
Yes. There were many hard things; the language was complicated, too. I was alone in London, it was difficult. There were times when I didn’t feel good. It wasn’t an excuse, but if you mix all this with what was happening on the pitch, things get very tough.
I went from Génération Foot to FC Metz, and from Metz to Tottenham, so it wasn’t easy for me, but I knew that at some point, things would get better, and that I would seize the opportunity.
In Yves Bissouma, you have a sort of older brother who has supported you and on whom you can rely. Did he help you through these hard times?
Yes. He really helped me as we talk to each other a lot. We had many talks, especially in the morning or at lunch. He has been in England for a while, so he gave me some advice, things that I need to do or improve. This is what is required here in England, anyway.
Do you remember your first match in the Premier League?
It was an incredible moment for me. I’ve waited for this moment for so long, and the match was here, even though we lost it. I was happy and satisfied because I thought that all the work I had done was paying off. It was special, it was incredible.
And from that time, things got better for you, you were able to play more minutes and get used to playing in the Premier League?
Yes, because I started to speak a little English and feel comfortable. Like I told you, things were difficult at first, but as soon as I learnt English, got used to the country and started to play, everything got better and I even played more minutes towards the end of the season.
There is also your goal against Manchester United, your first goal here – do you remember it?
I remember. I do. Scoring during such a great match, it can only make you feel good. Of course, Manchester United is a major club here in England, and being able to play in this kind of match is a real pleasure, it’s a dream. Scoring a goal on top of that is incredible.
For someone like you who, in the space of three years, went from Senegal to scoring a goal against Manchester United in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium must have been unreal?
Yes, it was crazy and I remember after the match, I got a lot of text messages, especially from back home because, as you may know, there are a lot of United fans there. So, it made me happy. I took it in my stride because, ultimately, it was just a football match. But I will never forget that goal, at least for now.
Another aspect of a football player’s career is the national team. Coming from Senegal, I suppose playing for the national team on the international stage is your holy grail?
You said it all. For me, Senegal means everything. And I’m working every day to be ready to help my national team, so every time they call me or I hear “Senegal”, I’m ready because it’s a beautiful country. People from there are very supportive with their fellow countrymen, whether you are injured or are going through difficulties.
They support you; they defend you; they protect you. Our job as football players is to defend our colours because, like I said, Senegal means everything to me, and I’m sure my team-mates feel the same. This is why I’ll be always ready for the national team.
What is your best memory with the national team?\
The AFCON, obviously.
In 2022?
Yes, the one we won. It was truly amazing; it was the best moment of my entire football career. Winning the AFCON with Senegal. . . Wow! It was incredible, I want to relive it.
Was it the best time of your life?
Yes, we can say that. And want to experience it again. I want to win more trophies with Senegal. It was a beautiful and incredible moment.
Let’s go back to the present at Tottenham. Like you said, you didn’t get to play many minutes in the Premier League, but you’ve managed to find your place in the team. Can you tell us how you feel, here and now?
I feel good at Tottenham. The squad is solid, we all get along. We work hard and, like you said, I didn’t play many minutes at first, but now my playing time has increased. I am able to play matches and help my team because that’s important too. I feel good, very good.
This is your second season under coach Ange Postecoglou. Can you tell us more about what his arrival has meant to you?
Only good things. Since he’s been here, I feel more comfortable. He likes football, as I like to say. He also protects us and wants us to play beautiful football.
We are doing a very good job with him and you can see it in the club’s results because he’s only been here for two years, but the squad is solid, we win matches and play good football and this is good for him, but also for us because it’s important.
He said you’re always smiling. That some great players never smile while you always are. Is this part of your personality here?
This is who I am – I don’t get angry very easily, it’s just who I am. I don’t behave any different or have a different kind of character. I am straightforward, it’s just the way I am. He saw me smiling because it’s what I do every day.
This is a good thing for me as well as an important thing for the squad because we see each other every morning, and maybe someone had a bad day or didn’t sleep well, so being positive is important.
What are your objectives for the season?
The objective is to win as many matches as possible, especially in the Premier League because, obviously, if you win every match, you’re bound to win something.
As for the Europa League, of course, it’s another objective for us, but we’re focusing on the league as we have made a good start. We’ll take it one step at a time and see where it takes us.
Fans can sign up for the Showmax Premier League mobile plan for Ksh 500 p/m or visit here for all the Premier League action.
