TSGDoku - Deniz Solmaz - Simply Different

Part 6: The alumni

In the last part of the interview series we present you a few impressions of different people who have run into Deniz Solmaz at some point in their career.

We start with Steffen Schmidt, who played for Sportfreunde Siegen in the second division and was also a coach at SC Waldgirmes and FV Breidenbach:

I've known Deniz for almost 22 years now. He was initially coached by my brother in the D-youth. When I was an A-youth player myself, the C-youth coach asked me if I wouldn't like to help him in training from time to time. Deniz was then goalkeeper in the C-youth, I think at the same time in the Hesse selection. Deniz was already physically not the greatest what has not changed (laughs). Basically for a keeper certainly a disadvantage. But he made up for this disadvantage with his talent. He was an inquisitive, hard-working and, above all, very self-confident guy. Above all, his self-confidence was very pronounced. It has to be said that here in the northern Dillkreis, understatement was rather in demand and probably still is. I myself was always a fan of "keeping the balls flat" before and after the game and showing the opponent in the game who is the boss in the ring. But this gap between "before and after" you don't always succeed ... For Deniz this gap was never a problem, virtually non-existent - there was never a discrepancy between doing and thinking. It's a shame that he had to end his own playing career early due to injury. Over the years, I have watched him from afar - for example, when he turned around the youth department in Eschenburg. Straightforward without caring what club or even outsiders think about him. The players and I think the parents too noticed what he was doing and appreciated it without reservation. In Eschenburg, however, it quickly became too small and too cramped for him. I did not follow the beginnings in Wieseck so intensively. Only when I was closer to the action as a Waldgirmeser player, he was again in my focus. With a lot of heart and care for "his boys" and "for his coaches" he plowed through and pulled his line. It's no surprise to me that not everyone got along with this way of doing things - but I also believe that if you take a closer look at Deniz and make the effort to understand him - you can't have any trouble with him in the long run. Since we are relatively different, we didn't always agree, especially when it comes to evaluating players and how to present yourself as a talented footballer. I think that we would be a very good team in this respect, but the distance and also certain life circumstances do not allow it. I like the idea of playing with him more often (laughs).

Deniz has set a lot in motion in his time - what has come about in Wieseck in the last few years is phenomenal. In regular conversations, I always hear that he is happy with what he is doing. He knows what is good for him and he lives it. The question is where he would have "ended up" if he had also had a certain amount of diplomacy in his quiver a few years ago. Possibly, however, he would not be as satisfied with his situation as he is now. However, Deniz (and all his comrades-in-arms) have accompanied a lot of boys on the path that every soccer player dreams of. But it is also crucial that each of these boys knows where he comes from - just like Deniz. In professional soccer in particular, there is still a lot of potential in this aspect - everyone can kick. But can they all permanently subordinate themselves to a common goal? Can they all get through difficult phases without complaining? Are they all able to take responsibility, even when the headwind gets stronger - do they all have the necessary self-confidence? Are they all willing to put personal sensitivities aside for the sake of common success? If someone can demand these things again and again - then Deniz. He will not allow himself to be bent in the process. I wish him the energy he needs, the willingness to develop personally, and the support of many people.