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RedNation Online recently had the opportunity to speak with Massih Wassey, a young midfielder who plays with Schalke 04 II in Germany. Massih was recently called up by Canada for the first time for the National Team’s first friendly of 2010 against Jamaica.
Born in the city of Munster, in the North West region of Westphalia, Germany, of a Persian Mother and Canadian father, his family lived in Germany for 23 years before they decided to move to Vancouver almost five years ago. While his brother and sister went with his parents, Massih stayed in Germany to focus on football and from 2006-2009 played for Preuben Munster in the Regionalliga West, or equivalent of the 4th Division. He suffered a hernia through 2008/09 that left him off the pitch for almost eight months. Wassey signed on with Schalke 04 in the summer of 2009, and is playing for their second team in the same division as his previous club. Now in full fitness, the left-footed attacking midfielder Wassey features regularly in the starting XI for Schalke 04 II and has contributed three goals for a side that currently sits 14 out of 18 in their table.
RedNation Online and Massih discuss his recent experiences playing with Schalke 04 II, his goals for the future and his first camp with the Men’s Canadian National Team.
RedNation Online: How has your first training camp with the Men's Canadian National Team gone for you?
Massih Wassey: It has been a really great experience and I am really enjoying it.
RedNation Online: Did you know or know of many of the players on the Canadian team before this camp?
Massih Wassey: I just knew Julian De Guzman from watching him on television. I had also seen Ali Gerba playing in Germany a few times, but the other players were new to me.
RedNation Online: What has the team been working on during the training sessions?
Massih Wassey: We have been doing a lot of tactical training and the coach has been preparing us for the match in Jamaica. For me it has also been important to have the chance to familiarize myself with the other players and things like that.
RedNation Online: For those Canadian supporters that have not seen you play, how would you describe yourself as a player?
Massih Wassey: I’m a young player with good offensive qualities. But I still have to learn a lot about different aspects of the game, especially from a defensive standpoint.
RedNation Online: What do you think are your greatest strengths as a player?
Massih Wassey: I think my shot is my greatest strength - both free kicks and also shots from outside during the course of play.
RedNation Online: Is there a particular player that you idolized growing up or that you have modelled your game after?
Massih Wassey: There are many big players that I admire, but as a child I always wanted to be a mixture of Rivaldo and Tomas Rosicky.
RedNation Online: I know you have previously said that you are an admirer of Ajax of Amsterdam. Is playing an attractive attacking style of football something that is very important to you?
Massih Wassey: Yes, I guess that is true. I love their 4-3-3 system. I love their style – it’s the perfect football in my opinion! My favourite position is to play behind the strikers, but I also love it to play as a right winger.
RedNation Online: You were born in Germany and have always played football in Germany. Do you think that you will play for a club outside of Germany at some point in your career?
Massih Wassey: I’d like to play in the Netherlands some day. I have talked to Julian De Guzman about that and he told me to stay in Europe right now. At some point I would love to come to the MLS.
RedNation Online: As someone who has mainly competed in Europe, has anyone given you an advice with respect to competing in the CONCACAF region?
Massih Wassey: I have talked with Coach Hart about that. I know that teams like the USA, Mexico and Jamaica play at a very high level and can beat even the best teams in the world, as we saw at the Confederations Cup.
RedNation Online: What position do you play with Schalke and how is the current season going for you?
Massih Wassey: Our main goal is to stay in the fourth division. My personal goal is to become a member of the first team. Otherwise, I will take the chance and go to another club in the 2. Bundesliga I think. But it has been a good season until now and my role is to play behind the strikers.
RedNation Online: You suffered a hernia through 2008/09 that left him off the pitch for almost eight months. Are you fully recovered from that injury?
Massih Wassey: Yes, I am fully recovered. It was the worst time in my life because many clubs were scouting me at that time and I was injured. But this is in the past and I just want to focus on the future.
RedNation Online: Has Stephen Hart given you an indication as to a specific role that he would like you to fill with Canada?
Massih Wassey: No, not in any detailed way. He told me just to enjoy everything and to give my best. I think it is probably still too early. He had never seen me play, so he also needs time to know me better.
RedNation Online: You are 21 years old and currently play for Schalke's second team. What do you think you need to do in order to break through and earn a spot with the first team?
Massih Wassey: The coaches and everyone else at Schalke are satisfied with my recent half season. I do think that sometimes you also need a little bit of luck in this game, such as one of the midfielders getting injured or someone getting a red card, so that I can get that initial chance with the first team.
RedNation Online: Which team did you support as you were growing up and was Schalke always a club that appealed to you?
Massih Wassey: Actually, it was Borussia Dortmund - but not anymore (laughs).
RedNation Online: Your family lives in Vancouver, while you are pursuing your football career in Germany. How often you find yourself in Canada?
Massih Wassey: The last time I was in Canada was 6 years ago. But I will visit my family for sure in June. And they visit me once a year in Germany.
RedNation Online: The Vancouver Whitecaps will be making the move to Major League Soccer in 2011. Would you ever consider playing professionally in Vancouver or somewhere else in North America?
Massih Wassey: Yes, I would love to! But I want to make my mark and reputation in Germany, just like Julian De Guzman did. And then move to the MLS in the future. That would be a dream.
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