INTERVIEW
afrolifestyle: Hello Pablo, great to have you on afrolifestyle.com.
Could you please introduce yourself?
Pablo Thiam: Of course, thank you very much for inviting me. I am a former professional soccer player who played in the 1st Bundesliga for 14 years. I started my career at 1. FC Köln in the early 1990s and then moved to FC Bayern Munich via VfB Stuttgart. In 2008, I hung up my boots at VfL Wolfsburg, where I held several managerial positions, including head of the youth academy. Most recently, I held the same position at Hertha BSC. I’ve lived in Germany for almost 50 years, having moved with my parents from Africa to Bonn in 1978 when I was four years old. My father was a Guinean diplomat from the capital Conakry. When my parents moved on, I decided to stay in Germany to finish school and pursue my career as a soccer player.
What was it like for you to grow up in Bonn?
I had a great time. This quiet city is still one of my favorite places in Germany. Being the seat of government, Bonn was special, exciting, and multicultural. I felt safe.
How important was a good education for you at home?
No argument: it was very important! I was lucky that my parents had a good education and we had certain opportunities thanks to my father’s job. That’s not necessarily something that you take for granted when you come from a poor country in Africa. Education was a priority and very valuable. I grew up speaking French and graduated from a Belgian high school. My parents also brought one of my cousins to Germany to give him a better perspective by allowing him to study. Many relatives did the same. My parents always said, “If you study or train in Europe, you will have an advantage in Africa. Then you can go back home and help the country and the people. That was very important to them.
Do you know Africans who have returned to Africa after completing their education?
Yes, many of them. When they returned, they showed great commitment and did a lot for their country and the continent. I stayed in Germany for a combination of personal and business reasons.
When did playing football become your dream job?
I didn’t realize it until I was 17 or 18, I wasn’t discovered until I was 16. That’s unthinkable nowadays. At that time I said to myself: “Wow, maybe I can do more.” I may never have been the most talented player, but I always tried to make the best of the situation. That’s how I achieved what many people dream of. I was grateful for that because it gave me an understanding of the bigger picture, the beautiful but often tough business of football. When I joined a club as a six-year-old, I just wanted to play football, I never thought I would become a professional. At home, football was omnipresent. My father played for Guinea’s record champions Hafia FC and knew many African football greats such as Petit Sory. Unfortunately, my father suffered a very serious injury and broke his neck. It was a shock, I have to say: luckily he survived. But after that, his career was over. At the same time, he was able to take the opportunity to work as a diplomat after his studies.
Career | impressions
You have worked with famous coaches and football stars. Do you remember a particular encounter?
Frank Schäfer discovered me back then and brought me to 1. FC Köln and always believed in me. I would describe him as a mentor who has become a friend over the years. But I have to say; at every station, I was lucky enough to meet people who stood by my side, inspired me, and supported me. I wanted and still want to learn more, no matter what. I would therefore describe myself as outgoing and open – even if it’s not always easy. This may be due to the mix of African and European cultures. Looking back, I can count myself lucky that I met great people who are still in my life. I have been able to learn a lot from them. It started with my coach when I was young and continued with my consultant, who has since become one of my best friends. We have also become a good team outside of our work as advisors. Of course, there were also encounters and experiences that I remember negatively, but in their way, they also helped me to recognize what I didn’t want.
When did you decide to stop working on the pitch and start working off the pitch?
It was a bit of a process. In the 2007/08 season, I could see that I wouldn’t be playing at the highest level for much longer. I asked myself whether I wanted to be a footballer who would continue playing in the 2nd or 3rd division, even though I had always played in the Bundesliga. Some professionals miss the jump and can’t stop. I didn’t want to be like that.
Guinea National Football Team
What was the decisive factor?
I knew I didn’t want to be a coach. One or two training sessions a day, games at the weekend, plus a lot of traveling and hotel stays. I didn’t want that sort of routine any longer. That’s why I accepted Felix Magath’s offer to assist him at VfL Wolfsburg. At the time, he was coach, general manager, and sporting director all rolled into one. I started as team manager of the Bundesliga team, and after a spell as assistant to the general manager, I was promoted to head of the youth academy. None of this could have been foreseen, but I am glad I made the right decisions at the right time. It soon became clear that I wanted to pass on my experience to the players and, at that time, increasingly to young talent.
What do you think about digitalization?
Progress, new ideas, and things that move our society forward are exciting. Digitalization is one of them, as it now affects almost every area of life and ideally provides practical solutions. Processes that bring people together and encourage collaboration. We can see children growing up with new technologies and having completely different opportunities than we did at that age. Digitalization simplifies and speeds up communication and the flow of information. On the other hand, we all must use digital achievements responsibly and learn from them. Keyword: fake news or misuse of data. We need to weigh up the pros and cons, the opportunities and the risks, to find a positive and sensible approach to how digitalization can help society.
afrolifestyle: Thank you Pablo for your time. It has been a pleasure having you for the interview.
