Henok Teklab, the ex-postman who returned to Frankfurt through the front door: “Even if it was hard, I always continued to believe that I was going to make it”

Henok, the Union needs a great combination of circumstances to be crowned champion: do you still believe in it despite everything?

”Yes, we continue to believe it. The only thing we can do is win our two matches and stay focused. We will see what our two competitors do. I hope we’ll be a little lucky in the end. We are always hungry to win the title after the Cup, even if losing these four games at the start of the playoffs hurt.”

We imagine that this goal scored in Bruges on Monday was your finest moment at the Union.

”It’s certain. A first goal, we remember it forever. It was a beautiful moment: the congratulations from everyone, the fact that it was an important match. At the time, I saw that Odoi was giving me a little space and that Ordonez was coming, so I decided to shoot… exactly where I wanted to put it. I like to play on the left side, come in on my right foot and try this type of shot. I scored a few like that, in Germany. Having scored, it freed me. It was a difficult season since my arrival, with hamstring and ankle injuries, it wasn’t easy to find a place in the team.”

Do you feel like you’ve finally launched?

”I played six or seven matches (Editor’s note: consecutive) before that, but I needed that goal, or an assist, for myself, to tell myself: ‘I can do it’. But also to show everyone that I can do more than what I have done so far. There are two games left to show it again. I didn’t play in the Cup final, it was the coach’s decision and I respect that. It’s my first season, Loïc is a good player, I understand. The coach told me that I would have playing time in Bruges.”

Why do you think it was difficult for you to establish yourself? The difference in level between the German D4 and the Union or the injuries?

”There was a real difference. The first weeks, I saw the level in training, especially Lapoussin who plays in my place… I try to learn from what he does. But it was mainly because of the injuries that I had difficulty asserting myself. When you come back afterwards, you have difficulty going all out in the duels. But I know what I’m capable of and I think it’s going to happen. The next preseason will be important, to be able to be 100% next season.”

We imagine that you must have received quite a few messages after your goal.

”Yes, Boniface in particular sent me a video of my shot. We met each other the first few weeks here.”

Henok Teklab, the future indisputable holder of the Union who could have been the hero

Were you surprised last season to see the Union knocking on your door when you were in German D4, in Preussen Münster, at 24 years old?

”Mmmh, not really, actually. You know, I’ve had my journey, (Editor’s note: he mimes a winding path with his hand), I was too small, too thin. But it wasn’t a surprise, because other teams, especially from German D2, wanted me. But I was happy to see that the Union wanted me. Of course, I knew them from last season. I was present at the stadium in Leverkusen (Editor’s note: in the quarter-final of the Europa League) and I saw how well they played. The Union is known for scouting well and analyzing data well. When I spoke with Chris (Editor’s note: O’Loughlin, the sports director), he spoke to me about the DNA of the club and it was important to feel that we wanted to go in the same direction. They showed me that they can take me one step higher in my career.”

You were failed by Eintracht Frankfurt at a young age and you had to go through lower divisions before exploding. It’s not an easy journey…

”I went through small clubs; I didn’t have much money. It was hard to keep believing that I could go pro. I was very young when Frankfurt failed me, but then I moved to the second club in the city. Facing Eintracht in the Conference League in front of all my family and friends was incredible.”

When did you turn professional?

”In Münster, which is a big club in the region, which has money and wanted to move up to D3, which we managed to do. Besides, they are playing again to move up to D2. Three years before that, I was playing in the fifth division. At 20, I was not professional, I worked at the post office alongside football. It wasn’t what I wanted to do, obviously. It was not an easy time. I kept telling myself that the following year, I was going to move to another club, that I was going to move up a notch, to reach D4, and that I was going to achieve it. I always wanted to get there; I knew that if I was patient, I would end up smiling. The path to achieving this was not easy, but my family and friends have always been behind me. They told me ; ‘See, we told you you’d make it.’ My father often comes to see me in Belgium.”

Your journey is a bit reminiscent of that of Deniz Undav, who arrived from German D3 to the Union before exploding, to the point of being selected for the Euro…

”In fact, we have the same agent, so we know each other and we exchange messages regularly. He sent me one after the Cup final victory. Yes, this is clearly an example. He’s a funny guy, who sends jokes, too. We talk about the team, what I can improve, he gives me advice. He still watches the Union matches, the one against Anderlecht, the Cup final and even the last one in Bruges. He said “oooh, that’s a great goal”. There are quite a few very good players in German D3 or D4 who are there because they were unlucky, but who have things to show if they are patient. I’m glad the Union saw me and found me. With Deniz, we have the same type of roots: families who were not very rich, who worked a lot for us to become professionals.”

You were born in Germany, but your parents come from Eritrea. What link do you keep with this country?

”I went there twice, with them. The last one dates back to 2013. You know, when you go there, you stay at least a month and it costs a lot, almost €5,000 per person all inclusive. My grandparents, my aunts and uncles, cousins, etc. still live there. I have a cousin who joined me in Frankfurt, who knows a completely different life here in Europe and who is very happy to have come (Editor’s note: Eritrea is one of the 15 poorest countries in the world). My parents wanted to go back next year, but I offered them the trip this summer, during the off-season. It will be the first time we go back in more than ten years, so, even if we stay in contact with them a lot.”