Seychelles goalkeeper Carlos Simeon, currently a free agent, opens up in an exclusive interview for Seysoccer. With impressive performances as one of the top three highest-rated players in both recent games, Simeon discusses his national team experience and future club prospects.
Previous Interview: Carlos Simeon: The boys and the coaching staff have each other’s backs
Seysoccer: How satisfied are you with your performance?
Carlos Simeon: As a goalkeeper, it’s very difficult, not the easiest position on the pitch, and everyone knows that. My job isn’t to win games for my team, but to keep us in the game, hoping one of the players can score and secure the win. It was challenging as we had a strong start against Ivory Coast for the first 20 minutes, and I’m disappointed that I gave away the penalty, which changed the entire course of the game. It was a rash decision on my part, a moment of panic. I take full responsibility for it. However, it’s a two-way street. If I hadn’t taken that action, people would have criticized me for not being brave enough. I made a choice, and unfortunately, it ultimately cost me and the team. That’s something I will hold myself accountable for. I did my best and gave my all in my performance against Ivory Coast. I’m disappointed with the scoreline as a goalkeeper. It’s great to make big saves, but people judge you based on the final score and the number of goals you allow. In terms of my personal performance, I was nervous before the game. Not playing regular football and knowing I wouldn’t be the number one goalkeeper coming to Seychelles, I seized the opportunity to impress, and I believe I did that in both games. Overall, I’m pleased with how I carried myself, but I must remember that there are world-class goalkeepers who train five days a week and still concede nine goals. I stayed strong to keep the scoreline as low as possible.
Seysoccer: How satisfied are you with the team’s performance?
Carlos Simeon: We, as a team, had objectives, but overall, like I said, it’s a young team being put together, aiming to be more professional in everything we do. I know in Seychelles, it isn’t easy because everyone wants to play football and drink, but you’ll never achieve discipline that way. We gave it our all and tried to play football, but we were competing against top, top, top players who are the best in the world in Ivory Coast. Hats off to the boys, but we can only improve from here onwards.
Seysoccer: Do you believe the team could have performed better, especially in the game against Kenya?
Carlos Simeon: Football is a peculiar sport because you can possess all the talent in the world, but sometimes it comes down to who wants it more and who demonstrates greater courage to go out there and win. I told the boys not to be disheartened because they all had the bravery to step onto the football pitch alongside world-class players, while others would crumble in such situations. We had belief that we could have achieved something in the Kenya game, but those two early goals against us dealt a severe blow to us mentally, and I could sense that. Nevertheless, we continued to make an effort, and it was a touching moment to witness the whole stadium rooting for us to score. People came out to support us, and that meant a lot. We switched off at the beginning, and it cost us. I managed to get a hand on the first goal and made a pure reaction save for the second one, but I could have done better to push it away.
Seysoccer: Being the highest-rated player in the first match against Ivory Coast, do you think this will enhance your prospects when searching for a new club?
Carlos Simeon: Fingers crossed. Once I go down to England, I will sit down with my agent, and we will assess my options. I have some clubs interested in me after my heroics, but I want people to understand my situation without a club, and I want them to support me as much as they can here. When I was in Spain/Gibraltar, I played for a team called LYNX FC. Before the start of the season, there was a situation where, as a man of dignity and principles in life, it should be the same for everyone. I was promised certain things that weren’t delivered, and I spoke up about it. Unfortunately, when you have an owner full of power in a country like Gibraltar, there’s nothing you can do about it. I was racially assaulted by the owner of Lynx Football Club, and for a whole year that I was under contract, I didn’t play. I returned back to England without touching a football for a year, and this case is currently going to court. I was dumped in an unliveable room infested with rats and dead birds. As a foreign player, I questioned the way I was being treated.
Seysoccer: You were among the top three highest-rated players in both games. How does that make you feel?
Carlos Simeon: Well, I’m slightly overwhelmed by it, honestly. When I first touched down in Seychelles, I knew I had to prove a lot of people wrong, and I’m sure I did that. I knew I wasn’t going to be the number one goalkeeper, but I would have worked my ass off to earn a spot in the starting team. As you could see, I was wearing the number 23 jersey. I haven’t worn the number 23 at every club I’ve been to; I’ve always been number 1. So, I was upset about that, but it’s not in my control. What’s in my control is what I do on the pitch and off the pitch, and that’s what I’m being judged on. But ultimately, I’m buzzing to be one of the top three highest-rated players because, man, you don’t often see goalkeepers achieve that after conceding 14 goals in two games. It’s something I can be proud of, and I owe it to my goalkeeping coach, Riffi Mandanda, who has helped and supported me, taking the time to work with me. My hard work is a reflection of him. It will certainly make me feel better within myself, knowing that I won’t receive negativity or death threats, which is a bonus for me. But regardless of that, I’m happy for myself and everyone who has watched me and supported me. It means a lot to be noticed, as they all know I’ve been through a lot.
Seysoccer: Would you consider staying in Seychelles and playing for a local club for a season or two to stay closer to the national team during their preparations for the next COSAFA cup?
Carlos Simeon: We will see, but I know some people want me to. However, until there’s a better system for player development, I don’t think I would. Speaking to some of the goalkeepers, they don’t even have goalkeeping coaches. Clubs have their own goalkeepers train themselves or have other players warm them up. I can’t rely on Cosafa since I don’t know if I’ll be selected. I will be disheartened if I’m not selected after both of my performances. Then again, there’s a saying that goes, “stats don’t lie,” so why wouldn’t I be in the next selection? I’m a confident human being with nothing to lose, you know. But when the time comes, we will see about Cosafa. First, I need to find myself a club and play consistently, aiming to become undroppable.
Seysoccer: Did you have the opportunity to exchange jerseys with any players, and if so, with whom?
Carlos Simeon: No, I didn’t. I wanted to swap jerseys with the Ivory Coast keeper, but he wanted to keep it for his family, and I respected that.
Seysoccer: Do you believe that these games have provided valuable experience for both yourself and the rest of the team?
Carlos Simeon: A big, big experience for everyone and massive exposure. A strong performance can open doors for yourself, and that’s what I believe happened for me. I just wanted to be noticed, and now I am. Everywhere we went, people showed love and congratulated me on my performance. But as a team, we know we have work to do and a purpose to fulfill. We’re here to work hard together, and it will take time. Everything is a process, and I believe in these boys, and the coaches do too. However, everyone in Seychelles needs to believe in us and support us, especially when we are feeling low. It’s crucial to lift us up because that’s how we will come together and gel as a team. That’s the key, honestly. We can only continue to push forward and improve, but regardless of the results, it has been a good trip. We are a nation, we are humans, but most importantly, we are a family. We love our country, and we know it’s not easy, but nowhere in the world is perfect. It’s what we, as people, do when we come together that can make something impossible happen.
