Ndinga: The draw? We anticipate it
Lokomotiv midfielder Delvin Ndinga has sat for an interview with Our Loko magazine. Below are the excerpts - the full version will come out in the printed edition of the magazine that will be available at the stadium on the day of our game against Kransodar.
- I heard you had a tough childhood: a disadvantaged one, so to say.
- My father passed on when I was seven. After the loss, my mom had it especially hard. For a time, I was brought up by my uncle. He had a good work. I didn’t feel I was in dire need then. He supported me, and all other family members helped. I am very grateful to them. But being a child in Africa is never easy, compared to growing up in Europe. One faces problems and shortages every day. Nevertheless, you cope just because you have no idea it can be different.
- Could you be more specific? What kind of problems and shortages?
- Sometimes, I did not have a pair of shoes to put on for a game. Playing grounds, too, are very different – grassless, dusty. That was the reality of life. But it makes you stronger. It’s difficult to develop stamina and become a footballer if you are not forced to struggle and to survive.
- How did you manage to get out of that?
- That’s exactly what they ask themselves where I am born – how to get out of it. Only Europe provides opportunities. I believe I managed to begin a new life because I can set an aim and go for it. I imagined my path to the competition football. I wanted to get into an academy, then move somewhere and live off playing. When I was 15, I was spotted and went to our capital Brazzaville to join the Diables Noires. In reality, it was a kind of training ground for young footballers on their way to European clubs.
- A feeder club for forging young talents…
- You bet. They trained boys in Brazzaville with the final goal of selling them. The best ones would go to France, where our partners were based. The moment of glory came in 2007, when our team formed the basis for the national squad at the Africa Youth Cup. And the title went to Congo! (Here Ndinga makes a gesture signifying victory).
- And you were spotted again?
- Not only me. There were players with more class. Out of 42 disciples they selected five, and I was among them. We went to France. I was lucky to land a place on AJ Auxerre. Nowadays, only two of the original five are still in the game: me and the other guy, who plays in one of the French leagues. I am trying to give you the idea of the competition one meets in football. Only few make it to the top.
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- Was your move from AS Monaco to the Greek Olympiacos a few years ago a kind of promotion?
- I think, yes. However, I was very unwilling to leave at the time - even on loan. Olympiacos struck that deal with the Champions League in mind. That was my biggest stimulus. It was a good period - I was happy. In Monaco, at a certain point they revealed plans ‘to switch the development vector’.
- Did Monaco players know the club’s patron Mr.Rybolovlev personally?
- Of course, the team were introduced. Bur his calls were only occasional, and he was not always present at the matches. He is a busy man. However, everyone understood that AS Monaco’s money was of Russian origin.
- Do you spend your Moscow evenings watching broadcasts from France?
- I am chiefly interested in France and England. And I follow the Russian Championship – it’s a must. I have to know my opponents, every player. In evenings I watch a lot of football, but it won’t last for long. My wife and son, who are currently in France, are coming here. Then I won’t be able to watch TV every day (laughing).
- Do you have anything to boast to your spouse? Perhaps, some Russian you’ve learned?
- I report to her that everything is tiptop. But there is no easy road to adaptation, first of all because of the language – a very tricky one. There’s always an interpreter around, and a few guys can speak French, which makes matters easier. I learned Russian football commands in the first days – that was the easy part. Each time around, I understand better and better what to do and how to conduct myself.
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- What is your impression of the team’s social life?
- We socialize via an interpreter, too. Dima Tarasov volunteered to help. He said to me, that if there’s any problem I can call and he’d help. It is very nice of him.
Alan Kasaev recalled that at Dynamo he spoke with my countryman Chris Samba. And for some reason, Samba told him tales of Congo as the richest African country. It is not true. The Congolese richest are those who control the oil reserves. People in general have no share in that. I told Alan how it really was.
- What can you say about your relations with the coaching staff?
- Before I was put on the main squad, the manager talked to me. We talked a lot, speaking about my role, the physical attributes and what the word ‘progress’ means. Honestly, in the beginning I felt ill at ease. I saw all the players were fit and able, and realized I was the one who had to catch up. But late in July I was in shape.
- The high point of the week is Europa League draw… Do you make wishes about opponents?
- Oh, we all anticipate it, eager to learn the names of our rivals. We will know them on Friday. I have mentioned already, I was most interested in English and French leagues – that’s the answer to your question.
