Football -Mali - Angers: Dan Sinaté confides his story

You made your debut in Ligue 1 on 14 March against Nice, how did you feel at that moment?

Dan Sinaté: A lot of pride. Already for my loved ones because I’ve come back from afar. I had gone five months without a club, I’m coming back, I’ll sign an amateur for six months and I’ll sign a pro in June. Afterwards, it happened seven months later, so it’s the work; I’m proud of that accomplishment even if it’s just a very small step. It makes my loved ones proud, myself proud and it makes me work even harder to have more playing time.

It’s been a year now that you’re at SCO, what has changed in your daily life that most stood out to you?

Before, you were at home every day, you didn’t practice much, you asked yourself questions as if you had stopped playing soccer. You don’t know if you’ll start again, where you’re at, you disappoint your loved ones a bit... And when you return to work, you immediately start a healthy lifestyle. You think, "This may be my last chance at a club." I have to give everything to succeed because I have to succeed in football and it has been my passion since I was very young.

Support is almost guaranteed, what is your ambition at the end of this season?

There are still points left to go get anyway. We’re going to give it our best shot at a win or a draw just to be sure and really feel comfortable. We have good ambitions; at the end of the season, there are still five games left. I think I could save a little bit of playing time and be comfortable having some experience next season.

You are just facing Le Havre, a direct opponent for the maintenance, on Saturday. Is this a match that matters more than the others in your context, and how do you prepare it?

No. Honestly, to tell you the truth, we haven’t made the video about them yet; we’re really focusing on ourselves first. When we look at the teams opposite too much, after us we look at how they play. So we don’t have to worry. We’re going to go with our heads held high, we’re fighters and we’re going to go for the win, but honestly, we’re not taking it too far. Even if he is a direct opponent for the maintenance, we will play as we know how to play football.

I watched a few matches of you with the B team from SCO and Mali Espoirs, you project a lot. Can’t you play as an off-center midfielder or a winger like Nuno Mendes right now?

(Laughter). It’s true that I project myself a lot. There are three left-backs at the club, so I’ve moved around a lot. I did 6, I did 8, striker, winger. I kind of did everything, so it gives me a real gear. And I don’t mind being made to play in other positions. Even if I still have factors to improve, whether it’s defensively or offensively, I play my game, take pleasure and try to deliver offensively to give gifts to my teammates.

In your position, which player inspires you the most and whom do you want to be like?

Marcelo. In that position, there’s nothing better. Then, for me, there’s Nuno (Mendes) who catches up with him a bit, I think, but Marcelo is still the Atlas. There’s nothing to say about him, it’s the example.

"It’s a shame to end up like that. For me, Mali could have gone really far in the AFCON."

There are three of you from Mali in the group. What is your relationship with Pona and Camara, who is a bit older?

Omar (Pona) is my brother. He’s really a friend. And then there is Ous (Camara) who is a bit older and who is a bit like a big brother and takes us under his wing. Having someone like that on your team gives you a lot of strength. He pushes us every day, he’s there behind us and we laugh a lot outside. But when it’s on the field, we’re always serious.

You are an U23 international but you surely followed the Eagles during the AFCON. What did you think of their journey?

It’s a shame to finish like that (Mali were eliminated in the quarter-finals). For me, we could have really gone far. The match against Morocco, I watched and admired it. We played football, we had one-two touches with beautiful plays, there was only the goal left. It worked well. I’m proud of the course, even if we could have gone further, but it’s still a source of pride. When football is like this, it’s beautiful.

What are your personal goals for the future, both in a club and with the national team?

For now, I’m focusing on my club. I want to grab some playing time and then, afterwards, I think the doors will open. I don’t worry, I focus on myself to have some playing time so that people see me and then the rest will be beautiful.