They will remember Jonathan Sesma (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1978), for those years in which he defended the Cádiz or Valladolid shirt in the First Division. He was even close to entering a call-up for the National Team, but was finally left behind because Iniesta recovered from an injury. Much has happened since then and if you expect to read in these lines that the footballer has put professional sports aside, you are very wrong. When he was born, no one imagined that the golden generation of Spanish basketball would arrive, or that Messi would put the reign of football legends in check.
Today, 41 years (to 42) later, Sesma has just signed for Unión Puerto, of the Canary Islands Third Division. He enjoys his land, where he also works as a lifeguard. However, he acknowledges to this newspaper that he would not mind testing himself in higher categories and far from the islands. “Sometimes they just look at your number on the ID and they don't see you physically“, he regrets. Who knows if this will be his last professional campaign. With the coaching course already taken, he dreams of training Cádiz, his” second island “. There he lived great moments and was the author of a double in the last victory of the Cadiz in First before the triumphant return this campaign.
Be that as it may, Jonathan is sane for a while. He already appreciated the retirement last season, although his great performance and the love of the fans helped him to maintain the illusion. “They told me I looked like a horse from the band, how could I run like that at 41 years old“He recalls. In an interview with AS, he talks about his career, his day-to-day life and how enthusiasm holds him on the pitch. Cifuentes He made his debut in the elite at 41 years old and Sesma would not have minded accompanying him. “hopefully“He admits with a laugh.
Sesma: “I have the illusion of when I was little”
41 years, what makes you keep playing?
The illusion is no longer about the money. It always comes in handy, but I'm still looking forward to it. The one I had when I was little. Well, I still have it because I know that I have taken care of myself in this path that I have had for so many years. And the truth is that taking care of yourself makes me feel good. And since I'm still looking forward to it, I'm still playing.
Why do you think other footballers lose their illusion?
There are some who lose their illusion due to injuries because thank God they have respected me. I have not had any serious and I hope it continues to be that way. Others do not know why, what may go through their heads, but I believe that most of them, due to injuries. Maybe that's the way it is and then they already think about being a coach and making a career as a manager, they continue in football for that. Also maybe a little because they don't have the right coach, they have them on the bench, there is not a good situation …
Everything comes, as they say, there is a saying that everything will come. So you have to strive, you have to fight. But if they put you on the bench it will be for something. I don't think there are coaches who are going to bitch. I have not had any like that.
Normally if you give yourself to the team and on top of that you score goals and you are physically well, then that will show. Maybe you have one ahead of you, but if they take you out and you are getting results… They can't take you away, no, the fans would be on top.
You lose speed, but you gain experience
Jonathan Sesma is still playing at 41
Quality and leadership, if any, remain intact. He keeps shooting penalties, he scored a free-kick that went viral …
The quality, no. Over the years some speed is lost. I'm not going to lie, I continue to maintain my speed, but not the same as I had a few years ago when I was at Cádiz or Valladolid. What you get is experience: you have more vision, you know when to pass… Before I needed something more, I have always been nervous, I wanted to carry out the action ahead of time. Now you become calmer and you play better than before.
Cifuentes has made his debut in Primera at 41 years old, the same age as you. How did you see him?
I am very happy for him. Even a goalkeeper could last longer, up to 45 years. In the end, you have an age and they already see you for that for Second or Second B teams or they think that it does not work. But it can still give you more performance than a 25-year-old player. Unfortunately, many are based on the age of the license and do not look at how one is physically. Hopefully everyone saw it, having one, two, three veterans on the team is always good.
He even said that the last season would be his retirement, but he has finally continued. Do you mark dates?
Last year I marked it because I took the coaching course and I was going to leave it, but I had a very good season and the people of Ibarra were amazed with how at 41 years old I could run so much, more than a kid. The coach, in addition to my coach, was my friend, but I couldn't fail him, I had to perform. They told me “but it does look like a horse going up and down the band”. That motivated me even more, to be compared to 18-year-old ‘kids’. Even if they throw me flowers, it's true, I'm not going to lie.
Against Vera we were left with ten and the coach put me on the side. Don't see how I went up the band, the fans there were impressed by how I ran, when I was 41 years old. They told me it was a physical wonder. I saw how they applauded me and it was even more motivation.
How did you handle the confinement? At 41 it would not be easy to stop competing and then come back. Did retirement cross your mind?
It didn't happen to me, but because I have a big house, where we have land to do things. I went out, I ran, I did my exercises. With weights, with the ball, I did sit-ups … My partner helped me. Thank God I could. Other people don't have the facilities that I had. It even had a pretty steep incline and it went up and down ten things. Everything I had learned in football also helped me. Others perhaps lived in a flat and only had a terrace. I was looking forward to it and this Sunday we started against Gran Tarajal.
He continues to enjoy football like the first day and has lived it all. Has a thorn stuck?
I always had the illusion of playing at the highest level and I did that with Cádiz and Valladolid. The only thing that I had left a bit was the Selection. But let them take away the “dance” from me (laughs). Luis Aragonés went to see a teammate and me, he paid attention to us a lot in the First Division. I was going to go because of an injury to Iniesta, but he finally recovered and I was left without going. Yes I have played with the Canarian, but I have always said that I am Canarian and Spanish. Now with COVID-19 I have a mask from Spain and another from the Canary Islands (laughs).
In recent years he has gone through several Canarian clubs. Does being on your land help and motivate you to stay active?
I would have liked to stay out of my country. I left Fuerteventura when I was 14 years old and I have always said that the later I returned, the better. If I say that I could play in Second B at 41, they would still take me for crazy, but I think about it right now. But it's normal, people want young footballers and they haven't seen me physically either.
I went to Valladolid and there was no sea, but I was happy because there was always a great deal. And in Cádiz, and in Huesca. Maybe being in my country gives me that little push, but I would not have cared this year or last year to play in the Peninsula.
Many are based on the license and not on how one is
Sesma and opportunities for veterans
He made his debut in Primera with Cádiz and scored two goals in the last victory before this season. How do you remember it?
I've always said it wrong, I thought my debut was against Racing, but in reality it was against Madrid at Carranza. And already in the second game at El Sardinero I scored my first goal. Unfortunately we descended. In the last game against Málaga I was able to score two goals. Then I went to Valladolid. I was able to stay in Cádiz for longer, they love me there a lot. When they offer you a job in which you can improve yourself, because Cádiz had fallen … It is normal to take it. We couldn't save ourselves and I stayed in First with Valladolid, who also waited for me. Some said I went for the bitches, but with Cádiz I take off my hat. It is like my second island, everywhere I have been treated well, but there I had everything.
Cifuentes, with his age, has played. Maybe you could take a few minutes …
Man, of course (laughs). I wish it was like that. Now I'm here, with a signed contract and now it's time to train and play.
He combines football with his lifeguard work. How do you handle it?
When I came back here in 2014, I started. Then I was on the beaches of Fuerteventura, which are beautiful and I recommend them to readers. Now I'm still on my beaches, in Corralejo, being a lifeguard with Emerlan.
Do you recognize him on the beach?
Yes, there are people who do. I can't be at home and just dedicate myself to soccer. I am active, I would get bored and my rings do not fall from working. He had been in one of the most famous water parks in the world for a few years. Life is like that, sometimes it gives you everything easy. Soccer is privileged, but life is hard.
The coach course has been taken. What does it look like in the future?
I see myself as a coach, but as in my time as a footballer. Going step by step. Do not take a big one, but a group of kids and grow. I would love to train Cadiz one day. Cervera is doing very well and he deserves it. The board of directors has succeeded in keeping him in office.