Tavares told TWG:
:: He is the ping-pong champion of Sydney FC
:: What it's like to travel the world as a professional footballer
:: Team-mates are friendlier here than in Europe
:: Why he loves the city of Sydney
:: How his love of music came from his dad
:: Why former team-mate Ze Roberto is an example to him
TWG: You've had a long and interesting career that has taken you to many different clubs and countries. Has it mostly been enjoyable?
MT: Yes. It's always good to have stability, for my family and myself, but to have the chance to play in a lot of different countries and see different parts of the world - different mentality, different culture - has helped me with my life and to grow as a person, outside of football. I've really enjoyed it and, for me, Sydney is one of the best cities I've been to.
TWG: When you were first considering coming all the way across the world to Sydney, were you nervous about it, before you made your decision?
MT: At the beginning I wasn't sure, but I had the chance to contact a friend of mine who was already playing here - Romeo Castelen, at the Wanderers. We had a chat and he told me only good things about Australia, so that made it easier for me. I also talked with Milos Dimitrijevic, at Sydney FC, whom I also knew, and he was very positive as well. Also, to come here with my cousin (fellow Sydney FC player Jacques Faty) made me more comfortable about making the move.
TWG: Romeo Castelen has had a good season, you're playing well and so is Jacques. It's been a great city for all of you so far, wouldn't you say?
MT: Yes, for sure. It's an amazing city, Sydney. Not many cities in the world can be compared with it. The only thing is it's so far from Europe and the family, but the lifestyle, the people, the weather - it's all great. The people at the club make me feel at home.
TWG: Do you think you'll be at Sydney FC again next season?
MT: I hope so. Sydney have to decide if they want me to stay around. We have to agree for the future, but the story has started well so hopefully it continues. We will see in the next few weeks. I think it's good for both of us if I stay. To be honest, I think I have done very well. Sydney is a good team and it's good fun here, so we just need to make something happen.
TWG: Have you and your cousin, Jacques, managed to see a lot of the city, away from football?
MT: Yes. We live close to the training ground, but we use our free time to discover some part of the city. We're together a lot and we spend a lot of time with Milos as well. I've seen some nice places. Last week I found a nice spot under the harbour bridge, right on the water, where people get married. I was just out for a walk and discovering a bit of the city.
TWG: What are your interests away from football?
MT: I love music. Our family is big on music - my dad used to be a DJ, so we grew up on music and sport. I'm always listening to music and getting new albums. I like hip-hop music and French music, many different artists.
TWG: Are there any other sports you like playing or watching?
MT: I like ping-pong. The team plays a lot of ping-pong at the hotel we stay at before the game. When I was younger I played a lot with my friends and I still play against my cousin a lot. We have a bit of competition before games. At Sydney I play with Marc Janko and Jacques a lot. I always beat them, but they don't like to say that I'm the best. This is a sport that I really like. I like tennis and basketball as well.
TWG: Is there anyone at Sydney FC who can beat you at ping-pong?
MT: No. The closest is my cousin, but the other players - no chance.
TWG: You mentioned the great weather in Sydney, normally, but this week has been something different? Have you seen wild weather like that before, at any of your stops around the world?
MT: I used to play in England and I was in the north, so I saw it raining all the time. But when you're here and the weather is usually great, it's a surprise when you get weather like this week. In England, you know when you wake up it's probably going to be raining, but this week I was surprised what happened here. I wasn't ready for this. Here, when it goes from 25 degrees to 15, you really feel the difference. In England, you're ready for bad weather.
TWG: Jacques and Milos are obviously among your good friends at Sydney FC, but are there other players at the club with whom you've become particularly good friends?
MT: Yes, here in Australia the people are very nice. Everyone in the team gets on well. When I played in Europe, everyone cares about himself and when a new player comes he's not always welcome. They think you're going to take their place from them. Over there, I had maybe one or two friends in the team, maximum, but here it's different. I have a lot of friends in the team and sometimes a few of us like to go out for a drink, to relax.
TWG: You're only 32. Are you thinking there are still a few more years left in your career that could take you who knows where?
MT: Yes, I'm 32, but in my head I'm still young. I feel fit and I don't feel like an older player in the head and that's the important thing. I used to play with one player, Ze Roberto - he came from Bayern to Hamburg and he was the oldest player, at 37, but he was the best on the pitch. He was very fit, good technique, so that is really the example for me. There's no secret - if you're professional off the pitch you can have a very long time as a player.
