Mosquera Interview - 13 Years Old, Alone In Moldova

First Team
Friday, 16.11.2007 / 19:37

„Drama surrounding Werder player“. With that shocking headline, Werder Bremen’s Columbian striker John Jairo Mosquera held the attention of football fans all across Germany in July 2007.

„Drama surrounding Werder player“. With that shocking headline, Werder Bremen’s Columbian striker John Jairo Mosquera held the attention of football fans all across Germany in July 2007. During a trial for second division FC Carl-Zeiss-Jena, the 19 year old was jogging in the woods when he suddenly suffered a rapid drop in blood pressure causing a loss in consciousness and the youngster was rushed to hospital. A shocking set back in the early career of John Mosquera whose chance of a loan move to the east German club crashed due to his physical weakness.

 

The media reports on the incident did the young players career no favours either, with such dramatic quotes as “Cardiac arrest at training” decidedly exaggerating the extremity of the situation. Werder doctor Dr. Götz Dimanski explained: “The doctors at the heart clinic in Bremen have been working together with the employees at the ‘Reha-Zentrum’ in Bremen and have assured us that it was not a cardiac arrest.” The team doctor went on to state: “Before John set a single foot back on the trainings pitch, we checked him out from head to toe and were able to insure that John has no sporting limitations.”

‘Mosqui’, as he is known at Werder, has proven just that, and impressively so, since his comeback with Werder.

 

On October 31st 2007, the young striker was introduced against MSV Duisburg in the 80th minute of the DFB Cup tie at the Weser Stadium. The Columbian’s first touch of the ball landed in the back of the net to make it 4:0 for the Green-Whites. Since then trainer Thomas Schaaf has given Mosqui his first taste of the Bundesliga – reason enough for WERDER.DE to speak to the young striker.

 

John, your move to Werder was some time ago now. Do you recall your first game in Green-White?

John Jairo Mosquera: “Of course. It was an 8:0 win here at the Weser Stadium, I think it was against a ‘Police-Team’. I played back then together with Miroslav Klose and I scored a goal.”

 

That was in January 2006. In the DFB Cup against Duisburg you scored your first goal in a competitive game for Werder...

John Jairo Mosquera: “Yeah, when I see that picture of me in the paper now I still feel good about it. All the emotion of it comes rushing back.”

 

A great start. Last summer though, you hit the papers again with very different headlines. Are you still trying to deal with that incident?

John Jairo Mosquera: “No, when I think about what happened then it stirs nothing in me at all. Of course everyone still asks about it but I came to terms with that a long time ago. It’s history and now I’m just concentrating on Werder Bremen. I really feel at home here. I like the way people treat each other here and the way in which I have been welcomed at the club.”

 

Back in your homeland you became the leagues top scorer at just 14. What does a record like that mean to you?

John Jairo Mosquera: “Oh that was a nice story but nothing more than that. It didn’t change me – I’ve kept my feet on the ground.”

 

Could that have anything to do with the fact that you failed to make any noise at clubs like Wacker Burghausen (08/2006 – 06/2007) or Danish side SönderjyskE (2/2006 – 07/2006)?

John Jairo Mosquera: “I did get to play at Burghausen but soon after I joined they had a change of coach and then it became difficult for me as I didn’t fit into the coaches plans.”

 

And in Denmark?

John Jairo Mosquera: “In Denmark I played just a couple of games, and scored one goal but I was very young, just turned 18 years old.”

 

For a player of your tender years you have had a number of clubs. How do you deal with that?

John Jairo Mosquera: “I have gotten used to not seeing my family very often. As a 13 year old I travelled to Moldova alone for a 15 day trial without speaking a word of the language.”

 

...your German is quite good though...

John Jairo Mosquera: “Yeah, sure (laughing). I’ve learnt it all from my team mates. To be honest I really miss my family but I know there is no way around that.”

 

The you probably spend a lot of time on the phone to Columbia?

John Jairo Mosquera: “No, I really can’t do that. When I’m here in Bremen I need to concentrate on football. If I spent all my time on the pitch thinking about my family I wouldn’t be able to train. They can understand that. As soon as I fly home though, it’s time for my family.”

 

Don’t you need someone you can talk to?

John Jairo Mosquera: “It’s hard to find real friends. I’m quite an open person and know a lot of people but they are no more than acquaintances. Since Sebastian arrived in Bremen we have spent a lot of time together (Sebastian Boenisch is sitting at the table too – Ed.). We go to the cinema, play PlayStation and so on. I get on very well with the Brazilians and Hugo Almeida too.”

 

Sounds like a different Mosqui to the one we saw at the beginning of the season.

John Jairo Mosquera: “Yeah, that’s true. Since my first games I’ve come on bit-by-bit. I know I have the trainers trust. That helps because it’s difficult when you always come on as a substitute. It’s much better to play a complete half or a full game.”

 

How do you see your future?

John Jairo Mosquera: “It’s my dream to earn a place in the first eleven here at Werder and to win the Bundesliga with the club. When I first received the offer I was delighted that a club as big as Bremen were interested. Now I would like to prove myself here.”

 

John Muldoon

 

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