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KICKOFF: You hail from Hanover Park, following in the footsteps of the likes of Benni McCarthy and Desiree Ellis. Tell us how you started playing the game and are you from a footballing family?

Tashreeq Matthews: I started to play at the age of four. My father also played, but not at a professional level as he did not have parents to guide him.

But he is a very passionate guy for football and he has been there since day one, taking me to training, me and my older brother. He and his brothers had nicknames in football and that kind of thing when they were younger but unfortunately they did not become professionals. But they all love football.

Did you have any footballing role-models who shaped your thoughts on the game?

My role model was Cristiano Ronaldo, he still is now! My father is a Manchester United supporter and he groomed me to be also. Once I started knowing about the game, I watched Ronaldo and I love the way he played.

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