9th April 2021
Interview conducted by Adam Holt
I have recently caught up with current Exeter City centre back Cheick Diabaté to talk about his aspirations for the future, as well as his career to date and we also cover a variety of other topics. I hope that you enjoy this insightful Q&A.
Current Club: Exeter City
Check out the Q&A below!
Who did you support growing up, and did you have a footballing idol? If so, why?
“When I was growing up I supported Arsenal and I still do now. That’s the club my parents supported so I ended up supporting them. My Dad had Arsenal shirts and tracksuits as well so that’s the team I would hear about and see the most when I was younger. Arsenal being my team straight away Thierry Henry was one of my role models, but I had more than one role model growing up. Players like Drogba, Beckham, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Brazilian Ronaldo etc. Players like Rooney and Ferdinand as well these were the types of players that I was hearing about as a young kid.”
What would you say is the highlight of your playing career so far?
“The highlight of my playing career so far is definitely making my debut because all the years of work and sacrifices all led up to that moment, me making my professional debut. It was the happiest day of my life. But I’m only 19 so inshallah I have more success to come.”
How beneficial have your loans with the likes of Tiverton Town been for your development?
“My loans have been very hard for me to be honest. At the start of the season, I was meant to be playing at Bideford, but the club ended up moving me to Tiverton where they already had their starting 11 so I couldn’t break in. I didn’t play a single full 90 with Tiverton I was only getting 20 mins and stuff like that, and it ended up getting cut short early because we went into a second lockdown. So, I played less than 10 games with Tiverton and didn’t play a single 90-minute game, so it was hard and frustrating. I don’t really think it has had a very big impact on my development to be honest.”
How much of an inspiration for you and the club is Ollie Watkins?
“Ollie Watkins is an inspiration because when he was my age he was in the same shoes as me. So, it shows you that if you work hard and trust the process you will get where you want to get to, and Ollie has showed the young players at the club that this is true. You just have to stick with it.”
At what stage did you know that you were going to be a centre back?
“As a kid I wanted to be a striker like all kids. As I was getting older I started playing as a midfielder but when I hit 16 when I was at Stevenage they started playing me at the back a couple times. This is when I was thinking off just becoming a defender. I ended up getting released from Stevenage and signing for Exeter where they said I will make a career as a defender, so I started playing CB properly at 16 when I joined Exeter City.”
How did it feel to make your senior debut for Exeter in the EFL Trophy against West Brom?
“It felt good to make my debut I always used to think that when I made my debut I would be very nervous, but I was actually very excited to get on the pitch. I felt ready and I had zero nerves. After the game I was just very happy I got so many messages on social media and it was just a good feeling and I will never forget that game.”
What would you say has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
“The biggest challenge of my career has definitely been moving away from home at 16 to play for Exeter. I was born and raised in London, I’ve lived there my whole life, that’s where all my friends and family are, so moving to a place like Devon was extremely hard for me. I never stepped foot in Devon before and I didn’t know a single person, so it was a tough experience. London is a very diverse place, and I was very used to the diversity and the energy and the buzz that you get when you are in London then when you come to Devon it’s not diverse at all, the people are very different, there isn’t regular buses, there is no tube, no Ubers etc so it was very hard and weird for me, but I adapted well.”
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
“In five years time hopefully I will be playing in the championship or the premier league inshallah that’s the goal. But I want to break into the first team which is the most important goal for me at this stage and I want to get as many appearances as I can for Exeter and play my best, hopefully play for England as well in five years inshallah.”
Finally, what are your thoughts on the implementation of VAR in the Premier League?
“I think VAR can be good and bad. There has been many occasions where the officials haven’t used VAR when they need it. But as a whole i think it helps the officials make the right decision, but it can be very annoying for fans when they score a goal, but the goal gets disallowed. At first the stoppages for VAR were long and annoying but I’m used to that now like everyone else.”
I hope that you enjoyed this Q&A, keep an eye out for more coming soon!
Current Club: Exeter City
Check out the Q&A below!
Who did you support growing up, and did you have a footballing idol? If so, why?
“When I was growing up I supported Arsenal and I still do now. That’s the club my parents supported so I ended up supporting them. My Dad had Arsenal shirts and tracksuits as well so that’s the team I would hear about and see the most when I was younger. Arsenal being my team straight away Thierry Henry was one of my role models, but I had more than one role model growing up. Players like Drogba, Beckham, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Brazilian Ronaldo etc. Players like Rooney and Ferdinand as well these were the types of players that I was hearing about as a young kid.”
What would you say is the highlight of your playing career so far?
“The highlight of my playing career so far is definitely making my debut because all the years of work and sacrifices all led up to that moment, me making my professional debut. It was the happiest day of my life. But I’m only 19 so inshallah I have more success to come.”
How beneficial have your loans with the likes of Tiverton Town been for your development?
“My loans have been very hard for me to be honest. At the start of the season, I was meant to be playing at Bideford, but the club ended up moving me to Tiverton where they already had their starting 11 so I couldn’t break in. I didn’t play a single full 90 with Tiverton I was only getting 20 mins and stuff like that, and it ended up getting cut short early because we went into a second lockdown. So, I played less than 10 games with Tiverton and didn’t play a single 90-minute game, so it was hard and frustrating. I don’t really think it has had a very big impact on my development to be honest.”
How much of an inspiration for you and the club is Ollie Watkins?
“Ollie Watkins is an inspiration because when he was my age he was in the same shoes as me. So, it shows you that if you work hard and trust the process you will get where you want to get to, and Ollie has showed the young players at the club that this is true. You just have to stick with it.”
At what stage did you know that you were going to be a centre back?
“As a kid I wanted to be a striker like all kids. As I was getting older I started playing as a midfielder but when I hit 16 when I was at Stevenage they started playing me at the back a couple times. This is when I was thinking off just becoming a defender. I ended up getting released from Stevenage and signing for Exeter where they said I will make a career as a defender, so I started playing CB properly at 16 when I joined Exeter City.”
How did it feel to make your senior debut for Exeter in the EFL Trophy against West Brom?
“It felt good to make my debut I always used to think that when I made my debut I would be very nervous, but I was actually very excited to get on the pitch. I felt ready and I had zero nerves. After the game I was just very happy I got so many messages on social media and it was just a good feeling and I will never forget that game.”
What would you say has been the biggest challenge of your career to date?
“The biggest challenge of my career has definitely been moving away from home at 16 to play for Exeter. I was born and raised in London, I’ve lived there my whole life, that’s where all my friends and family are, so moving to a place like Devon was extremely hard for me. I never stepped foot in Devon before and I didn’t know a single person, so it was a tough experience. London is a very diverse place, and I was very used to the diversity and the energy and the buzz that you get when you are in London then when you come to Devon it’s not diverse at all, the people are very different, there isn’t regular buses, there is no tube, no Ubers etc so it was very hard and weird for me, but I adapted well.”
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
“In five years time hopefully I will be playing in the championship or the premier league inshallah that’s the goal. But I want to break into the first team which is the most important goal for me at this stage and I want to get as many appearances as I can for Exeter and play my best, hopefully play for England as well in five years inshallah.”
Finally, what are your thoughts on the implementation of VAR in the Premier League?
“I think VAR can be good and bad. There has been many occasions where the officials haven’t used VAR when they need it. But as a whole i think it helps the officials make the right decision, but it can be very annoying for fans when they score a goal, but the goal gets disallowed. At first the stoppages for VAR were long and annoying but I’m used to that now like everyone else.”
I hope that you enjoyed this Q&A, keep an eye out for more coming soon!