Interview with CF Fuenlabrada scholarship winner Mathew Thapa

Interview with 22 year old midfielder Mathew Thapa from Kohima who recently bagged a one year scholarship at CF Fuenlabrada (Spain).

1. To begin, we’d like a brief introduction about your early life and how you got into football. When did you decide to become a professional footballer?

Hi, My name is Mathew Thapa. I’m 22 years old, I play as a midfielder. I was born and brought up in Kohima, Nagaland. I did my schooling at Mt. Sinai Higher School Kohima. I joined Delhi Dynamos U-18 in 2018 and moved to Delhi Youth Football Academy in 2019. In that same year, I attended the Bhaichung Bhutia Football School while simultaneously playing in the Delhi League B division for Lodhi FC. 

2. We are aware that you beat several other contenders to earn a one-year scholarship at CF Fuenlabrada. Could you tell us more about this journey?

CF Fuenlabrada organised trials in 3 cities – Bangalore, Chennai and Manipur. I went for the trial in Manipur on the 15th of February. After 2 days I got a message saying that I was selected to train in Spain for one month. So in June, I went to Spain for my training, which was more like a training+selection. There were so many players from different parts of the country training with us and it was a very good experience training and playing with them. Eventually, I got a message from my agent saying that I got selected for a one-year scholarship. 

3. How has your experience in Spain been so far? How is the football culture there?

It was a very good experience for me. I got to learn a lot of new things from the coach there. Their system of training and gameplay is different, it was a good experience for me and yes, in the days to come, I look forward to learning more from them. 

As you know, Spain is a football country, football is a very important sport for them and the people out here are the most dedicated fans. They love spending time talking about football. 

4. As a potential professional footballer looking to impress at CF Fuenlabrada, what are your short and long-term goals?

My short-term goals are very simple. I want to settle down in the new environment as quickly as I can. It is necessary to adapt oneself to a new environment for better performance. Apart from this, my long-term goals are to grow and work harder. Progress is the key. I want to see myself putting more effort into every single game gaining more experience as I move ahead. These are not just goals but a guideline that I have to follow. In the end, I believe this will be advantageous to me. 

5. Which player would you like to emulate in your game?

I’m a very big fan of Neymar Jr. But we can’t fully emulate someone in our game, it is better to play our own game because each player has a different way of playing. You can always watch and learn from every player. 

6. What is the most memorable game you’ve played so far in your football journey?

The most memorable game for me was playing against Ruzhukhrie Government Hr. School during Kohima District Inter-School Football Tournament. It was in 2017, we lost in the semi-final by a goal to nil. They scored the goal in the last minute of extra time and it was a heartbreaking match for me. 

7. Growing up, which football club did you support? What’s the most memorable game you’ve watched so far?

As a kid, I grew up supporting Manchester United but now I don’t exactly have a favourite club. Being a fan of Neymar Jr, I follow and love PSG. 

The most memorable game I have watched so far is the one where PSG lost against Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final 1- 0. 

8. What does it feel like to play alongside so many top Indian and international players?

It feels great playing alongside so many good players as you see the competition is very high. There are lots of good players out there and it makes you work harder every day or else there is always someone who can take your spot so it’s like a challenge for me to train hard and to get better every day. 

9. Post the news of your scholarship at CF Fuenlabrada, how has the reception been at home in Nagaland? Are you happy with the support you’ve garnered so far? 

After hearing the news that I got a scholarship at CF Fuenlabrada, my parents and friends were very happy and proud of me. 

Yes, I’m very happy with the support that I got from my family, friends, and elders. They have constantly been supporting me, giving me advice, praying for me, and my health. I really want to thank them for their support. 

10. What would you advise other aspiring footballers on the come-up?

My advice for the upcoming footballers is very simple – if you are obsessed with something and truly want to pursue your passion, you have to keep working hard. You’ve got to believe in yourself, put in the time, and yes, you will succeed!

All the best at CF Fuenlabrada, Mathew. We look forward to seeing you in the big leagues soon.