Sport

The making of Japhet Tanganga

16 December 2021
3 Min Read

Haran Naresh talks to a former secondary school
teacher of Spurs defender Japhet Tanganga
By

Japhet Tanganga<br />Credit: Tottenham Hotspur/ Getty Images
Japhet Tanganga
Credit: Tottenham Hotspur/ Getty Images

Japhet Tanganga has been one of Tottenham Hotspur’s brightest performers in a difficult period for the club.

The 22-year-old has firmly established himself in the Spurs first-team. He has gained two caps for the England Under-21 side, and his displays have earned him recognition at international level.

Tanganga’s talents were honed at Tottenham Hotspur Academy, and he went to school at Greig City Academy in Hornsey, where he was taught by geography teacher, Jon Holt.

Holt was previously in charge of the sixth form under-18s football team which Tanganga played for. He recalls the defender standing out at a young age: “He was very composed and knew how to get the best out of the other players. He was clearly a step ahead of most of the other players.

“He had a maturity within his game that was much higher than what you would experience in school football. There wouldn’t be any circumstance in a game that would faze him.”

Greig City Academy provided guidance and support to Tanganga in his path to professional football, says Holt: “We were keen to support Japhet with his football because it required time out of school.

“We were keen to make sure that the academic side of his life continued successfully so that he had a plan B in case he got an injury.

“We had to get the right balance between his football and academics.”

Tanganga has demonstrated versatility in his young career, playing in several positions. Holt says the defender thrived in a different position in his school years: “He did an amazing job in central midfield, that was where he was the most influential for the school team both at under-16s and the sixth form as well.”

Holt believes that Tanganga’s success will be a source of inspiration for students: “The fact that we can turn on the TV on a Saturday and see one of our former pupils playing in the Premier League is absolutely amazing.

“He was very polite, well-mannered and had a great sense of humour. He got on with virtually everybody at the school. In that way he’s a very good role model.

“If we have young players who’ve got real potential in football, we can point to someone like Japhet and say ‘look at the qualities he’s got that have got him to where he is.’”

After having a strong start to the season, Tanganga has had limited involvement in recent weeks. He will be hoping to impress new manager Antonio Conte and he is sure to continue representing Greig City Academy and Haringey at the highest level of football.

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