By Scott Ferguson
scott@canucks-abroad.com
Tam Nsailwa: In Action at AEK
Canucks Abroad recently spoke with AEK Athens' Tam Nsaliwa about his move to Greece, playing with Rivaldo and the current status with the Canadian National Team.

Canucks-Abroad: Thanks for agreeing to talk to us. How has it been at AEK Athens playing alongside Rivaldo, one of the world's greats and someone who plays a similar position to your own? Have you been learning from his game?

Tam Nsaliwa: Of course. Above all, he’s a great professional, so he’s been influential in a very positive way. His abilities are the most amazing thing to see on a day-to-day basis, and if anything, you just get a new level of confidence to play with him and learn from just watching him every day.

CA: What have the fans been like so far at the Olympic Stadium in Athens? Closer to home, have you been back to Toronto to take in a TFC game yet? How does it compare?

TN: I haven’t been to Canada since last Christmas, as during the summer holidays, my first child was born in Germany so I couldn’t make the trip home; but I have seen how TFC has been hugely successful with its fan base already and I’m very happy to see professional soccer receive such strong support in Canada.

Our fans in Athens are also great. We have a much bigger stadium than TFC, so you may be fooled into thinking that we don’t have a strong support [when not at capacity], but we normally get about 25-30 000 fans a game. Greeks are known to be very passionate, so you can only imagine the atmosphere, especially at the big games where attendance reaches 50-60 000.

CA: There’s been some confusion about your international status -- it seems that getting a German passport allowed you to avoid taking up a non-EU spot at AEK, and in order to do so, you had to relinquish your Canadian citizenship. Is this the last we've seen of Tam Nsaliwa in a Canadian shirt, or is the situation any closer to a resolution?

TN: No, I don’t think it’s the last I’ve played for Canada. At the moment, I’m working together with the CSA to try and get clearance from the German government to re-acquire my Canadian passport (citizenship). It’s a very complicated situation that goes back a few years now, but rather than talk about how it got to this point, I’m just happy to report that things look positive for me to get my Canadian passport back and still maintain my EU status in European football.

CA: Some fans have pointed to the mystery surrounding your international situation as further evidence that the Canadian Soccer Association is not doing its job. Do you feel that the CSA or our national government could step up and do more to get you back in a Canada jersey?

TN: Well, to be fair, at this point I really feel that the CSA is doing everything it can given all the red tape involved in the situation. Having said that, I was a little disappointed when the situation was beginning, because there were steps that could have been taken to avoid it getting this far. Still, at this point I do believe that the CSA is doing everything it can, and everything I ask them to do, to definitively resolve this issue; so I’ve chosen to look forward to a positive outcome from all of this.

CA: Has Dale Mitchell been in contact with you about the World Cup qualifying squad? If so, how do you see yourself fitting into a stronger-than-ever midfield alongside Julian de Guzman and Atiba Hutchinson?

TN: Well, to be honest, having played one game for Canada in about four years now, it’s kind of hard to see how I would even fit into the scheme of things at this point. I have spoken to Mr. Mitchell, and basically our conversation was centred around trying to find a solution to the situation at hand and to leave whatever happened in the past where it is. I have not talked to him about how or what he would want to do with me if and when we are past this position, but for my part, I’m just looking forward to returning to playing for Canada with my old teammates and trying to qualify for the next World Cup.

CA: You're no stranger to international travel, having come to Canada from Malawi at a young age. Did that experience help you to prepare to adjust to life in Europe as a pro?
Tam Nsailwa
TN: No, I don’t think it did so much, as I moved to Europe when I was 16 and didn’t really have a good perspective on life in general at the time. I think that the way my parents raised me helped me more than anything to adjust to what I was exposed to when I moved out, and after that, it was up to me to take my experiences and let them influence me in the ways I saw best fit. It’s never easy to leave your family at a young age and to try and make a career for yourself, and even though I have made what would be called mistakes in my career, all in all I’m very happy with how things have turned out and I wouldn't want to change anything, really.

CA: You've played extensively in Germany, something we're seeing more of with Canadian footballers -- is Germany becoming the new go-to destination for Canadian players?

TN: Well, for one, they have some of the most lenient laws against foreign players from specific countries, with Canada being one of them, so I think that makes it easier for Canadians to seek opportunities in Germany. I also think that it has become a country that fairly judges players, and its clubs don’t go unnecessarily looking for South Americans or Africans for that matter to fill up their rosters -- rather they are willing to give anyone who shows sufficient ability to help the team a fair chance at earning a contract. Having said that, I’m sure that if you ask any of the players that do play in Germany, it’s not an easy place to make football your job. :)

11:1
1. Obviously, living and working abroad can be a big transition for anyone. Are there any tips you would offer to young players looking to make it in Europe?
Be prepared for things that don’t go your way or prove easy. In the end, if you’re determined and disciplined enough, what you put in will come back to you!

2. Favourite player?
I’m just a fan of good players in general. Deco, Iniesta and co. come to mind.

3. Favourite football club?
Barça.
Tam Nsailwa
4. Favourite car?
Bentley Continental GT.

5. Favourite film?
Friday.

6. Playstation3 or Xbox?
Dell XPS? (laughing) I don’t play video games.

7. Best friends in football?
Julian de Guzman and Victor Oppong,

8. Germany, Greece, or someone else -- who will you be cheering on at Euro 2008?
Holland, if Jonathan [de Guzman] is playing.

9. Imagine its 2012, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps have joined TFC in Major League Soccer. Which of the three do you support?
Vancouver, as it’s the closest to Edmonton!

10. Do you see yourself playing in North America, maybe at the tail end of your career?
I would love to.

11. And finally, where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
Hopefully, playing in one of Europe’s top leagues -- or possibly collecting German welfare. (laughing)
Tam Nsailwa

Editor: I'd like to personally thank Tam for the time to answer the interview questions and his honesty on the answers. We all at CA want to see Tam back in the reds of Canada as soon as possible. Here's hoping the CSA can win a little fan-favour back by helping make this happen.

Pictures: Courtesy of Tam.