Rising PSL star Haashim Domingo

 

“I couldn’t feel my legs…The doctors said there was a chance I would never play football again, I thought I was done” says 23-year-old Haashim Domingo, central attacking midfielder (CAM) for PSL side, Bidvest Wits.

Domingo’s story starts on the courtyards known as “the blad”, a tarmac area which separates two blocks of flats in Hanover Park, Cape Town (CT). In an area notorious for gang-related violence and high rates of drug use in the community, Domingo found solace with a ball at his feet. He mesmerized the locals with his ability, showcasing his raw skill in the form of street football, crafting his talent that would later be displayed across Europe.

Domingo started playing football at the age of 5 with a local Athlone team called Oriental Gunners. At the age of 8 Domingo was scouted to join the Ajax CT Academy, which the player says, “laid the foundation for my career as a footballer.”

According to friends and family, Haashim’s talent had sparked major praise across the cape flats, and Ajax had begun to recognize him as a prodigy of the clubs academy. “I think it was at that stage when all the praise got to my head, I thought I was a big-time-Charlie, you know?” says Domingo, laughing in his reflection of his youth’s hubris.

“It was the last game of the season, I was 16,  playing for the Tygerberg board team, where I had gone up to challenge for a header and as I landed, I collapsed,” Domingo pauses, then continues to say, “I had no idea what happened but all I could remember is that I couldn’t feel my legs.”

The assessment of Domingo’s injury reported that he had cracked his vertebrae and the likelihood of him playing football again was quite slim. According to the doctors Domingo was in need of surgery that would cost R110, 000.

“I come from a humble home, where my parents would never have been able to afford the surgery, we also did not have medical aid, so my mom and I would sometimes sell food on weekends to raise some funds for the operation”, said Domingo.

Luckily by the advisement of his club, Domingo says, “I went to Vincent Pallotti for a second opinion, and there the doctors said that because it was only an acute crack, and because I am still young, it may be able to heal without surgery.

“I was put in a back-brace which I wore for about 1 year 8 months. The sad thing about this entire situation is that throughout that time, Ajax had offered no support, not financially, not even a one phone call, they thought I was done.”

For a player like Domingo, who viewed football as a means to end, his world had slowly come crashing down with the likelihood of him being able to walk out onto the pitch withering away. Domingo recalls engaging in activities unsporting-like and detrimental to his health, being mischievous and nonchalant because of his despondency.

The injury had not only taken a physical toll on the player but it was a massive psychological obstacle for him to overcome. This is where his faith in Allah and Islam became his salvation.

“It was the month of Ramadan in 2012 that changed everything for me.”

Domingo explained that the last 10 days of the Holy month is a very special time of prayer on the Islam calendar, in teacher-like fashion,  he adds, “One of the nights in the last 10 days is called, Laylat-al-Qadr, which in English means, the night of power. It was on this night, where I received the results of my scan, which showed that the crack had completely healed.

“This moment changed my life in terms of my belief and my spirituality, I become closer to God, and that’s how my faith grew stronger.”

In a remarkable turnaround after nearly 2 years of not playing football, Domingo made an astounding comeback for the young Urban Warriors, winning the Metropolitan Cup and the Copa Amsterdam in the 2013/2014 season.

“We had just come back from winning the Copa Amsterdam in Holland, and that’s when everything just went crazy,” says Domingo with his eyes gazed to the ceiling in thought and recollection he adds, “Some of us got to train with the first team when we came back, and this was huge. I mean, growing up playing for the academy all you ever dream about is playing in the first team. I still remember it was a Thursday when Roger De Sa pulled me aside and had a chat with me, saying that he would like to use me in the PSL.”

“Not too long after that, I found myself in the office with a contract in front of me. My agent was in Switzerland at the time but guided me as to how I should conduct myself in the meeting. When I opened up the contract I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They had offered me a 3 year deal with a 2-year option for only R7500.00 per month.”

“I felt the offer disrespected me, my family and my worth, says Domingo disgruntledly, “I mean, how am I supposed to look after my parents?”

By the advisement of his agent, Domingo declined the offer and went on to spend the next two years of his life trialing all across Europe, “It was always my dream to play in Europe,” says Domingo.

 

Domingo explains this next chapter of his life to be a frustrating journey of uncertainty. He moved from Denmark to Germany, Portugal to Spain, Holland to Belgium, and trialing at clubs such as Schalke FC, Club Brugge KV, FC Gent and Barcelona B.

The CAM’s creativity and raw ability sparked the interest of Ajax Amsterdam, however, if a contract was to materialize, he would need at least one national cap.

“I was selected for the under 20 national team to face Cameroon in the Youth Championship qualifier in 2014. With Ajax Amsterdam needing me to have at least one national cap, this is where I thought I’d get it.”

We were leading the match 2-1, and Shakes (Mashaba) turns to the bench to make a sub in stoppage time to waste a few minutes. He brought on a midfielder, the guy sitting next to me, I couldn’t believe it. All I needed was one minute, just one minute and I would have signed the next day- and Shakes knew this”, recalls Domingo.

“Shakes told me that I’m still young and that opportunities will come my way,” Domingo stares to the floor and adds, “But not like this, not Ajax Amsterdam.”

“Look, I was upset in the moment, but I realized that if it was meant to be, it would be. I have to trust God,” Domingo’s opens his palms in prayer-like fashion and says, “Tawakkul, it means to put your complete trust and faith in Allah.”

“After Barcelona, I broke down. I wanted to come back home. I never let my parents know how I was feeling, but I became extremely despondent. I bottled everything up and my only way to deal with everything was my faith. I just put my head to the ground, my knees on the floor and I prayed.”

In 2017 Domingo finally signed a contract for Portuguese side, Vitoria de Guimaraes FC, where he featured in the LigaPro, Portugal’s second division. After completing his first season with the club, there was still uncertainty about his future. Domingo had traveled back to his family home in Mountview, Cape Town, where he was able to spend the month of Ramadan with his loved ones.

“I came to the end of my contract, and I hadn’t been offered a contract renewal yet. I went back to SA, where it was actually Ramadan again, Domingo smiles and continues his train of thought, “It’s funny how it’s always in Ramadan when these things happen.”

“I wasn’t necessarily happy in Portugal. Financially I wasn’t where I wanted to be. I would have liked to have been able to send home enough money so that the bond on our home could be paid off, but I wasn’t making enough. I wanted to play first-team football, and they (Vitoria de Guimaraes) couldn’t put it in writing. I played 30 league games in the second division, what more did I still need to prove?”

“My agent said that they were happy to renew my contract but first-team football could not be promised, and I needed more assurance, I just wanted more certainty, so I prayed.”

“Even though it’s always been my dream to play on the biggest stages in Europe, after giving it some thought and prayer I was ready to come home.”

In 2018 Domingo joined Bidvest Wits, under Head Coach Gavin Hunt, who had just won the PSL the season before.

Domingo says he has adjusted well to life in Johannesburg, “Life is pretty fast out here, but I’m enjoying myself, I chose Wits because I knew I would be surrounded by top talent, playing with Bafana Bafana players, which will help my development as a player. Gavin Hunt is a winner and I like that about him because I want to win trophies. I also get to see my family more often, even though I’m not based in Cape Town, it’s only a 2-hour flight, says Domingo and smiles blissfully.

At the age of 23, Domingo offers a piece of advice to young players aspiring to play at a professional level, “My advice to most players is to respect the game because it can either make you or break you. You can achieve so much if you stay grounded, put your trust in God, work hard and most importantly respect your parents.”