This season, Caldecott bid farewell to Chongqing and moved to Shenzhen, and his performance in the first five rounds of the Chinese Super League was undoubtedly eye-catching, with three goals and two assists. At the same time, the news that he is expected to join the Chinese nationality is also spreading.
Q: How did you get involved with soccer as a kid? Were there certain people who influenced you?
Caldecott: It's a well-known fact that Brazilians have a passion for soccer, and it's been in their blood for a long time. When I was a child, my father used to play soccer and took me there, and since then I've had a love affair with the game.
My father was not a professional soccer player, but he always said that he played better than me, we never played on the same field, just heard him say that and I acquiesced. He played as a center back while I was a striker, and if I was his opponent, he would definitely try to overpower me, like throwing punches or pestering me, haha.
Q: How did you come to professional soccer?
CALDEQUE: In Brazil, there are many youth leagues and I have participated in some trainings and competitions. at the age of 10-11, I joined the ranks of the Vasco da Gama youth team. Since then, I have been on a journey to professional soccer, from youth soccer to professional soccer, one step at a time.
Q: What was the process of making the decision to join Shenzhen?
CALDERICK: I can't exactly describe how long it took to make this decision, anyway, it took more than a month. First of all, I had an in-depth discussion with my family. The Shamrock Club presented me with their plans and goals for the future, which was important to me.
Mr. Ding gave me a detailed introduction to the planning of Shenzhen Football, including the player configuration, which made me very interested. In addition, Cruyff Jr. was my coach and we worked together, and that experience was very pleasant for me. Being able to work with him again might be an opportunity for me to create a new history. It took me a few weeks to finalize the transfer, but the decision has been shaped in my mind for a long time.
Q: What kind of knowledge did you have about the Shenzhen team before you joined them?
Caldecott: I knew some of the players before joining SZF, both as opponents and teammates, and we had played together. Some of the players in the team are relatively well-known and we have heard of them. In addition, the coaching team is also familiar to me, because we have worked together.
For me, it was the first step in getting to know this team. Before I joined, I learned more about the club's long-term plans, which was also a crucial step for my career.
Q: What's different about the experience after joining?
Caldecott: It's normal to have new experiences. At the teammate level, I was teammates with Won Min-sung, and I know more or less about the other teammates, but not having worked together, it's a big change for me. When you come to a new team, there are definitely a lot of new changes to adapt to. In addition to me, SZF has also brought in new foreign aiders, which requires a process of adaptation for all of us. It's a natural phenomenon that all players have to adapt when they go to a new environment.
Q: Before coming to Shenzhen, what kind of knowledge did you have about the Shenzhen team?
Caldecott: Before I joined SZF, I knew some of the players, both as opponents and teammates, and we had played together. Some of the players in the team are relatively well-known and we have heard of them. In addition, the coaching team is also familiar to me because we have worked together before.
For me, it was the first step in getting to know this team. Then before I joined, I learned about the club's long-term plans, which was also a crucial step for my career.
Q: What has been a different experience since joining the Shenzhen team?
Caldecott: It's normal to have new experiences. At the teammate level, I was teammates with Won Min-sung, and I know more or less about the other teammates, but not having worked together, it's a big change for me. When you come to a new team, there are definitely a lot of new changes to adapt to. In addition to me, SZF has also brought in new foreign aiders, which requires a process of adaptation for all of us. It's a natural phenomenon that all players have to adapt when they go to a new environment.
Q: Do you have any hobbies outside of racing and training?
Caldecott: I love fishing, whether it's sea fishing or river fishing, I enjoy it. Fishing is a pleasure in itself and I enjoy it very much. In Brazil, I once caught a big fish close to 25 kilograms. When I was in Chongqing, I also went fishing, but I didn't catch anything too big. In Shenzhen, I haven't had much time to find out where I can fish, and I've heard that there are lots of places to fish in Shenzhen. Besides fishing, I also like to get together with my family, go out for dinner, go shopping, or take a walk in the park.
Q: Brazil is a soccer kingdom, and many stars have emerged, which one is your favorite?
Caldecott: As we all know, the history of Brazilian soccer has produced many superstars, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, etc., and now my favorite is Neymar.
I've known him for a long time, we played together at Santos FC. I think he's the best player, and he's definitely at the top of the world in terms of ball skills. He is a very team-oriented player who also brings out the best in all aspects of his game. The one I admire the most is Neymar.
Q: What Chinese have you learned over the years playing soccer in China? Can you say a few sentences briefly?
Caldecott: I can speak some numbers and soccer terms. I actually wasted a lot of time learning Chinese because when I first came to China, I signed a short-term contract and I didn't think about learning Chinese at that time. Then after I renewed my contract, I didn't have much free time, so I lost the time and opportunity to learn Chinese. Now I really want to go and learn the language seriously, and I want to communicate better with everyone.
Q: Are there any Chinese stars you know or love, such as movie stars or singers?
Caldecott: In that regard, I am really my weak point and don't know much about it. Because of the language, I don't understand the songs they sing, and I don't understand what they say in their movies. For me, I focus more on soccer, and my teammates like Gao Lin and Yong Pei, who are by my side, give me a lot of joy and help. I think these friends are the most famous people I know.
Q: What are your favorite Chinese dishes? Have you tried Cantonese food since coming to Shenzhen?
Caldecott: I've eaten hot pot before in Chongqing, and I haven't tried too many local dishes in Guangdong because I've been here for a short time and haven't made a point of seeking out Cantonese cuisine. Perhaps my greatest knowledge of Chinese food is still from the previous years. I'd be happy to try it if someone treats me.
Q: Many fans have said that you are very strong-willed and fighting spirit, what do you think of their comments?
Caldecott: I think they are very right, I am a player who loves to win and enjoys it very much, and I respect my teammates very much. My teammates and I respect each other and when we win together, it's a great feeling.
Q: Since the beginning of this season, Shenzhen fans have continuously traveled to Guangzhou to cheer for the team, what was it like to hear the cheering of Shenzhen fans during the game? Is there anything you want to say to them?
Caldecott: I'm very grateful to our fans, who come to every game to cheer us on. I know very well how important the fans are to us, they inspire us and make us more active and ferocious in every game. I think the fans are an integral part of the club and are essential to the development of the game and the soccer environment.
I would love to win every game and give the victory as a gift back to our fans for their continuous support and help. I expect that we will always fight together, even though they are not players on our team, we fight together and work together to beat our opponents. I am very grateful for the support of our fans and I will work with my teammates to make sure that we try our best to play every game and give back to our fans whatever we can.
Q: What are your expectations for the team's results and your own performance so soon into this season?
Caldecott: I'm a player who gives his all as long as he's on the pitch, and I'm sure my teammates are the same type of player who will fight for the goal as long as we step onto the field. Our goal and the team's approach is to fight for first place, and as long as we play soccer, it's all about winning and winning all the time. Winning first place is our goal, and I know it's hard because there are a lot of good teams and good players in the Premier League who will stop us from chasing that goal. But that's the way soccer is, we'll give it our all and do what we can to get the best result.
So, if we are fortunate enough to win first place, with my teammates, I'll be really happy because it's the result of our efforts all year. But, no matter what, I will do my best to help the team to get a higher ranking.
