From the “village club” to the wide world
After his first season in the men’s division at SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, Fabian Messina set out for the Dominican Republic, almost 7,700 kilometers away – not to recharge his batteries, but to prepare with the national team for the CONCACAF Nations League. On Thursday evening (local time), the 19-year-old celebrated a successful debut in Group D of League B in Belize, which he defeated 2-0. Messina was in the starting eleven, pulled the strings in midfield for 71 minutes and scored the opening goal through Jean Carlos López (20th).
Belice y @sedofutbol se four on frente a frente en actividad del Grupo D in la Liga B de #CNL22.
¡No te pierdas los mejores momentsos del partido!
https://t.co/cjDUgxr8un pic.twitter.com/AELwSevRRL
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) June 3, 2022
The first contact with the Dominican Football Association came about during Messina’s time with TSG Hoffenheim’s youth academy, when his advisor Can Arikboga informed him about his interest and the invitation to the U23 team for the CONCACAF Olympic qualification in Mexico. “For me it was very surprising and an honor to be able to play for my mother’s country. I really wanted to have this experience, but it was preparation and exam time at school,” Messina told Transfermarkt. “I had to take the risk. But everything worked out and I passed the test afterwards.”
Now followed the invitation to the senior national team, which has been looked after by the Spaniard Iñaki Bea since February 2022. The 43-year-old also played for the Austrian Bundesliga side FC Wacker Innsbruck and in Germany for SV Kickers Pforzheim. “I first met Iñaki over the phone and he has big plans for the Dominican national team. He also speaks German and knows the mentality and football in Germany, which is a big advantage,” said Messina.
Messina will decide on the future after international matches with the Dominican Republic
Messina says honestly that he “cannot yet assess what chances the Dominican Republic have in the CONCACAF Nations League.” The midfielder doesn’t know enough about football in North and Central America and the Caribbean. The world number 155. meets Belize (173), Guatemala (118) and French Guiana (not a FIFA member). The trip to his mother’s homeland has another bonus for Messina: After years, the 19-year-old sees parts of his family again, who are happy about the sporting success of the native of Stuttgart.
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How things will continue for Messina after the national team trip is still open. The midfielder had originally signed for Sonnenhof Großaspach last summer until 2023, but the “Dorfklub” only got relegated from the Regionalliga Südwest due to the poor goal difference. However, Messina, who played 33 games for the SGS, aspires to higher tasks.
“Right after the U19s, I was able to gather my experience in men’s soccer at Sonnenhof Großaspach in the regional league. I will leave my current club,” says Messina, who grew up speaking four languages (German, English, Spanish, Italian) and has had a number of doors open to him. “My advisor has various requests that he is reviewing for me. He looks at what is best for my development. I’m still young and have time to develop further.”
#CNL| 5’| 0-0
¡Onceno initial ante Belice! #LaSeleccionNosUne pic.twitter.com/LTetVS8KIF
— Selección Dominicana de Futbol (@sedofutbol) June 2, 2022
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