Fame, popularity and social media status all go hand in hand when it comes to reaching the pinnacle of ‘the beautiful game’.
So, how does somebody retain all of these attributes whilst playing out of the 8th tier of English football? Introducing Hashtag United’s own, Farai Tsingano, who has been a mainstay for the Essex side since his arrival.
Born June 11, 1994 and raised in Brentwood, Farai, at the age of 18, would set off for America in an attempt to pursue a professional football career, attaining a scholarship from Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Four years later, the graduate would return to his hometown where he started to work in the pharmaceutical industry – believing his dream was over.
Just two years later, he would find himself the opportunity of a lifetime from the very game he was “completely done with.” Football.
He joined Hashtag – originally a YouTube Sunday league team full of friends and imaginary FIFA style divisions – in the 2018/19 season. Tsingano was welcomed into the squad just as the team transitioned into the professional footballing world, and his ability was clear to see.
Stand Out Performer
The now 27-year-old central defender stood out from the pack in training with his defensive awareness, ball playing technique and overall polished quality. However, gaffer Jay Devereux made him earn his spot in the lineup, leaving him on the bench for their first few games.
Discussing his emotions at the time, Devereux’s new signing made clear, “in my head I was rattled because I know what I can do. But, obviously Dev’s, he’s already done four weeks of preseason with these guys, so he’s going to pick people he knows.” Later admitting he needed to change this mindset, “I remember thinking ‘okay this is cool, my time will come’, I knew I was going to make a difference.”
Farai was inevitably going to get the start, and he did just that, dominating from the get-go. “That first season was very easy, I just knew every game I was going to play, nobody was getting past me.” Anybody that tried this was quickly met with a stellar combination of speed and intelligence, ushering aside any attacking threat with general ease.
The improved defensive performances from Hashtag upon the arrival of their six-foot star man skyrocketed his popularity, quickly becoming a cult hero for Hashtag’s virtual audience of over 590,000 subscribers.
Fan Interactions
As the clean sheets, minutes on camera and social media followers started to roll in for the charismatic Tsingano, the situation of bumping into one of his supporters became unavoidable.
“I was on the tube. I had my headphones on, some guy tapped me, and I was thinking ‘what’s going on?’” Clearly this wasn’t a regular occurrence on Farai’s commute, as he jokingly suggests, “I thought I was being mugged.” Luckily, it was just an overzealous supporter there to show some appreciation.
“The first time was the most surreal for me, it was just weird. I just kick a ball around.”
Humility and humbleness are two traits that seem to be less prevalent the further up the pyramid you go, and even with a huge following, Farai maintains this side of his fantastic personality.
Keeping It PG
Boasting well over 11,000 followers on Instagram, a number which most newly promoted Premier League side players struggle to eclipse, the Chelsea fan is well aware of the younger audience the family orientated club attracts.
“We’ve got to be careful about what we post. We’re just guys, we like to have a good time so we’re always communicating with each other about what we can post. Otherwise, Dev’s will be at our necks.” Whether it’s out of awareness or fear of Devs’ telling off, Farai has been doing a great job filtering what is posted to his socials and who is able to see them.
“It’s A Family”
“We’re always getting messages from other gaffers, it’s not about the money we’re getting pumped at us, if it was about that, most of us would have gone by now. We don’t play for the money; we just enjoy the group of lads we play with.”
Two of those lads, Harry Honesty and, ex UEL student, Joshua Osude spend a lot of free time together going out clubbing in London. The trio even travelled to Dubai together, where I’ve been promised for their next expedition that I’ll be “added to the private story.”
