Posted in Features, News, Team News on Feb 07, 2018.
Ryan Moon joined Kaizer Chiefs at the beginning of the 2016/2017 season. He has been in scintillating form in recent weeks, scoring three times in the last four matches. KC Website had a few questions for the 21-year-old striker.
Ryan, you made your PSL debut playing for Maritzburg United, based in your home town, against Platinum Stars on 13 February 2016. How was that?
It was a great moment as I finally made my debut. I took a while as I was still at school, only finishing my matric in 2015. The coach, Ernst Middendorp, told me before coming on: “Go out and have fun.” I had a couple of good chances. We were 1-0 down when I came on and it finished in a one-all draw.
You had played twice in the Absa Premiership in the 2015/2016 season when Kaizer Chiefs came calling. Was that a surprise?
It was a huge surprise, but what an amazing one. It’s every young boy’s dream to play for Kaizer Chiefs.
You struggled with a knee injury in that first season… That must have been tough?
Yes, I had a couple of set-backs in that season when it comes to injuries. It was tough. I stayed calm, however, as injuries are part and parcel of the game. I just stayed focussed on getting fully fit.
Your first goal for Kaizer Chiefs was on 6 May 2017 against Golden Arrows… How do you reflect on that goal?
Scoring your first goal is something very special. I will always cherish that moment. And the moment you get that first goal, you want to score more and more. It becomes an addiction.
Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala provided the assist for all three goals you have scored so far this season. Do you guys train a lot together?
The balls from Shabba just came to me. It’s part intuition, part training, as we do practice a lot on finishing at training.
You are a great header of the ball. Does that come naturally to you or do you practice a lot to perfect that?
(Smiles) I often practiced as a young kid in the backyard of our house with my father and my older brother Bryce. We used a balloon. That’s how I started acquiring the right technique to head the ball. Of course, over the years, that was improved at training.
How difficult is it to deal with the pressure of having a well-known brother, Bryce Moon?
People would often introduce me as the brother of Bryce. To be honest, I was always honoured, especially because of what he has achieved. Bryce played for Bafana Bafana and, when with Greece club Panathinaikos, in the UEFA Champions League. I come from a highly competitive family and it’s my dream to walk in his footsteps.
Before Kaizer Chiefs, coach Steve Komphela worked with you at Maritzburg United and clearly believes in you. How does that feel?
It’s great to have a coach who believes in you. We have some fantastic strikers, like Bernard Parker, Gustavo Páez and Leonardo Castro. The competition for places up-front is strong and I am by far the youngest. I really admire the coach, also for having faith in me.
How do you motivate yourself before the game?
I try to picture myself moving into the right place to score a goal. I visualise different crosses from the side, where the defenders are and, accordingly, come in front of them and put the ball in the back of the net. Every day I make time for this visualisation process. It helps me to spot situations before it actually happens, which in turn results in scoring goals.
Do you watch other strikers to learn from - if so, who would that be?
I watch a lot of different strikers. Here at Kaizer Chiefs, I learn a lot from Bernard Parker, who regularly talks to me what to do in certain situations. Bernard played at the highest level in Europa and he mentors me a lot from what he learnt, which is fantastic. Otherwise, I look at all types of strikers – each has his own strength to learn from. The best examples to watch at the moment are, of course, Barcelona’s Luis Suárez and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Harry Kane. They are unbelievable.
Some compare you with the former Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi Especially as you are a typical goalpoacher. How do you react to that?
(Smiles again) It’s an immense honour to be compared with such a great striker. However, I have to work very hard to be able to achieve what Inzaghi has achieved. There is still a long road to go. I just need to continue to work hard and stay focussed.
What would you like to achieve with Amakhosi?
I definitely want to win trophies with Kaizer Chiefs. The goalsoring record at Kaizer Chiefs is in the hands of Marks Maponyane with 85. That’s something I look at to beat.
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Ryan, you made your PSL debut playing for Maritzburg United, based in your home town, against Platinum Stars on 13 February 2016. How was that?
It was a great moment as I finally made my debut. I took a while as I was still at school, only finishing my matric in 2015. The coach, Ernst Middendorp, told me before coming on: “Go out and have fun.” I had a couple of good chances. We were 1-0 down when I came on and it finished in a one-all draw.
You had played twice in the Absa Premiership in the 2015/2016 season when Kaizer Chiefs came calling. Was that a surprise?
It was a huge surprise, but what an amazing one. It’s every young boy’s dream to play for Kaizer Chiefs.
You struggled with a knee injury in that first season… That must have been tough?
Yes, I had a couple of set-backs in that season when it comes to injuries. It was tough. I stayed calm, however, as injuries are part and parcel of the game. I just stayed focussed on getting fully fit.
Your first goal for Kaizer Chiefs was on 6 May 2017 against Golden Arrows… How do you reflect on that goal?
Scoring your first goal is something very special. I will always cherish that moment. And the moment you get that first goal, you want to score more and more. It becomes an addiction.
Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala provided the assist for all three goals you have scored so far this season. Do you guys train a lot together?
The balls from Shabba just came to me. It’s part intuition, part training, as we do practice a lot on finishing at training.
You are a great header of the ball. Does that come naturally to you or do you practice a lot to perfect that?
(Smiles) I often practiced as a young kid in the backyard of our house with my father and my older brother Bryce. We used a balloon. That’s how I started acquiring the right technique to head the ball. Of course, over the years, that was improved at training.
How difficult is it to deal with the pressure of having a well-known brother, Bryce Moon?
People would often introduce me as the brother of Bryce. To be honest, I was always honoured, especially because of what he has achieved. Bryce played for Bafana Bafana and, when with Greece club Panathinaikos, in the UEFA Champions League. I come from a highly competitive family and it’s my dream to walk in his footsteps.
Before Kaizer Chiefs, coach Steve Komphela worked with you at Maritzburg United and clearly believes in you. How does that feel?
It’s great to have a coach who believes in you. We have some fantastic strikers, like Bernard Parker, Gustavo Páez and Leonardo Castro. The competition for places up-front is strong and I am by far the youngest. I really admire the coach, also for having faith in me.
How do you motivate yourself before the game?
I try to picture myself moving into the right place to score a goal. I visualise different crosses from the side, where the defenders are and, accordingly, come in front of them and put the ball in the back of the net. Every day I make time for this visualisation process. It helps me to spot situations before it actually happens, which in turn results in scoring goals.
Do you watch other strikers to learn from - if so, who would that be?
I watch a lot of different strikers. Here at Kaizer Chiefs, I learn a lot from Bernard Parker, who regularly talks to me what to do in certain situations. Bernard played at the highest level in Europa and he mentors me a lot from what he learnt, which is fantastic. Otherwise, I look at all types of strikers – each has his own strength to learn from. The best examples to watch at the moment are, of course, Barcelona’s Luis Suárez and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Harry Kane. They are unbelievable.
Some compare you with the former Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi Especially as you are a typical goalpoacher. How do you react to that?
(Smiles again) It’s an immense honour to be compared with such a great striker. However, I have to work very hard to be able to achieve what Inzaghi has achieved. There is still a long road to go. I just need to continue to work hard and stay focussed.
What would you like to achieve with Amakhosi?
I definitely want to win trophies with Kaizer Chiefs. The goalsoring record at Kaizer Chiefs is in the hands of Marks Maponyane with 85. That’s something I look at to beat.
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