Tottenham’s Pape Sarr opens up on his journey from his father’s team in Senegal to the Premier League and claims he ‘owes it all to his family’
- Pape Sarr has become a regular presence in the Tottenham midfield this season
- He has now spoken of his ‘beautiful experience’ learning his trade in Senegal
- The 21-year-old also named one Spurs team-mate as his ‘big brother’
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr has opened up on his ‘beautiful experience’ of football in Senegal and his journey to the Premier League.
Aged just 21, Sarr has been a key cog for Ange Postecoglou’s table-topping Tottenham side this season, appearing in every game so far.
He began his career at the legendary Generation Foot in Dakar, which has produced a host of other Premier League names including Sadio Mane, Papiss Cisse, Ismaïla Sarr and Diafra Sakho.
Sarr’s earliest football experiences came earlier in Senegal’s third city, as he told the Premier League: ‘My first contact with football was in Thies where I grew up in Senegal. I grew up in a footballing family, they drilled a hard-working mentality into me regarding football. They always prepared me to be successful.
‘My dad was a manager. I was afraid of the comments he was going to make about me. It was a plus for me as he was often giving advice after games.’
Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr has opened up on his journey from Senegal to the Premier League
He described Spurs as a ‘family’ and insisted he would ‘make the most of his time’ with the club
Sarr has since gone on to represent his country 15 times and picked up an African Cup of Nations win while still a teenager.
He was unequivocal on who had inspired his achievements, adding: ‘Even in Senegal I left my family at a young age to live in Dakar. It’s not easy being so far away. I owe it all to my family, they’re a huge part of my success.
‘I went through the Generation Foot academy. We would arrive Monday and return home Saturday. We were young lads. It felt like we were a real family. Everyday we were together, it was such a beautiful experience.’
It seems the bonding experience Sarr felt in Dakar has been matched in North London.
‘Here, we are a family,’ the midfielder said of his Spurs side, ‘I am someone who likes to have fun and live in the present, I’m here to make the most of my time with my team-mates.’
He named Yves Bissouma as a particular influence and referred to him as his ‘big brother’ who had been ‘incredible’ in his support.
The feel-good atmosphere at Spurs seems to be having an effect on the pitch, with Postecoglou’s side top of the Premier League after eight games.
They were made to work in their last game against Luton after going down to 10 men on the stroke of half-time, but clung on for an important 1-0 win after a goal from Micky van de Ven.
Tottenham will next be in action after the international break when they take on Fulham on Monday, October 23.
The 21-year-old named fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma as his ‘big brother’ in North London
Ange Postecoglou’s side sit top of the Premier League after beating Luton on Saturday
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