Becker: “We all have the same goal”

Following Benedict Hollerbach’s long-term injury, Mainz added reinforcements to their ranks with their fourth winter acquisition, Sheraldo Becker. The striker, who turned 31 on Monday, will serve as Hollerbach’s replacement in the attack, and the Suriname international has enjoyed his first few days at the Bruchweg. “It was a great week, even though it went quickly. My family and I have settled in well, we’ve had the chance to see a bit of the city and went out to eat together – we all really like Mainz.” Becker already had an idea of what FSV would be like ahead of his loan, as he spoke with two former 05ers. “I talked to Jean-Paul Boëtius and Jeremiah St. Juste, and they told me a lot. I’ve also played a lot against Mainz, so I knew what to expect to a certain extent,” explained the attacker.

“The Bundesliga suits me better”

The 05ers’ head coach is also no stranger to Becker. Between 2019 and 2023, the striker played under Urs Fischer at Union Berlin. “We worked together for a long time and also spoke to one another before my move. We know each other well, he’s very clear and direct with his ideas – I’m glad, that we’ve now got the chance to reunite here.” The loan to FSV also represents a return to the Bundesliga for the striker. After his time in Berlin, he relocated to Spain to play in La Liga. He initially played for Real Sociedad, before making the switch to Osasuna. Becker noted that Spanish football is very different to the Bundesliga in certain respects. “In Germany, it’s more direct, whereas players dribble more and are trickier in Spain – things are intense in both countries, but I think that the Bundesliga suits me and my strengths better.” 

Shortly after his arrival in Mainz last weekend, the attacker made his very first appearance for the 05ers and marked his debut with a 2-0 win at home over FC Augsburg. “It was important to get the three points. In the first half, we played well, and we also had a lot of chances to score after the interval. But now, we’re focusing exclusively on our next game on Friday,” said the new arrival about the upcoming away match against Borussia Dortmund (20:30 CET).

“A big opportunity”

In summer, the attacker has the opportunity to experience something truly special. Becker, who was born in the Netherlands, has played for the Suriname – the birthplace of his parents - since 2021, making 22 appearances for the South American side so far. In March, the Suriname national team will participate in the FIFA Play-Off tournament in a bid to secure qualification for this year’s World Cup. “We’ve got a huge chance to book our spot at the World Cup, but it’s not going to be easy – everyone’s got to be 100% fit and ready.”

For a long time, the striker sported the shirt of his birthland. The 31-year-old represented the Netherlands at all youth levels from the U16 team to the U20s, but he ultimately made the choice to play for Suriname. “Switching wasn’t an easy decision – the process also wasn’t easy. Up until around two years ago, it was only possible to play for Suriname if you were also born there, but this requirement has been scrapped since then.” In order to play for the country on the north-east coast of South America, Becker has been willing to endure the rigours of travelling – for Becker, this hasn’t been a barrier to representing his parents’ homeland. “When we play football together, we have the same goal: We want to give our all to win for our country. It’s not going well for people there, and we can make them really happy with every win.”

“On the right path”

With an eye on the Bundesliga and Mainz’s recent good form, the striker expressed confidence. “We know that we’re playing well at the moment – it makes us feel good, even though the first half of the season didn’t exactly go to plan. Now, we’ve got 13 games to get points and secure survival,” noted Becker, who thinks the team is going in the right direction despite some room for improvement. “My gut tells me that we can’t be completely happy yet, but our fans believe in us, and – as a team – we’ve got to internalise that. Right now, we’re on the right path. We all have the same goal, and if we can maintain this current form, I’m sure that we’ll be able to achieve it.”