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You are one of the most sought after players in a field match due to your reliability and high work rate.Can you tell us how you got to be so reliable on the ball (as in you seldom lose possession)? Also, can you comment on the motivations for your higher than average work rate. A: I guess having a bigger physique will definitely help in shielding the ball. Another key thing is I would prefer to evade a challenge with a move and keep possession first before thinking of going forward. Personally I feel thatmany a times players lose possession because they are in a hurry to go forward. I believe in keeping possession first and I would not mind playing the ball backwards so we can build up an attack again. Actually I do not feel that my work rate is higher than the average player. I will always try to get into positions which allows me to receive the ball and to provide options for the passer. When defending, I will try to read the game, and to get into a position to intercept the pass. Lastly I do wish to emphasize that in soccer off the ball running is everything. (Like Man U, their off the ball running and positioning is really awesome) You are especially noted for your long yet accurate and intelligent passes which often turns defence into attack or if launched from midfield, often splits defences and gives your striker a scoring opportunity. Can you share with us what goes through your mind as you deliver one of these passes? A: Hah, I guess its kind of hard to describe what's going through my mind. I guess, how such passes work is that it must not be something expected. A big part of my game is to move into one side with the ball to create an opening on the other side before I made the pass. (Managed to learn this all thanks to RI's Mr Chok's Paul Gascoigne video) Another aspect which allows me to make such passes will be that I will always try to glance to see my surrounding players and positions before I receive a pass. Before the ball is played to me, I always have an idea of where I intend to play the ball, this allows me to make the pass more smoothly and accurately. A curious aspect of your game is that when you have the opportunity to shoot you seldom like to ram the ball in. Instead, you seem to prefer to place the ball. Is there a reason to this? A: I guess probably I enjoy passing too much and I would try to pass the ball into the goal. To be honest, I would definitely prefer to shoot. I have always envied people with the natural technique of shooting. However, my ankles do not allow me to shoot like them (Due to too many past ankle sprains and fractures) That is why I always make an effort to train my left leg or just play the ball to someone else in a better position. What are the major events that have dictated the way you play soccer? A: I started off as a defender, and this helped in my positioning and reading. A large part of my game is based on this two aspects thus when I played either midfield or attack, I will try to incorporate these two aspects. This probably explains why I prefer passing and keeping possession rather than shooting. What do you try to achieve when you have the ball in defence, midfield and attack. A: In defence, I always believe in safety first especially when it is an 11 a side game. If possible I will try to look for strikers running into positions and try to play the ball into space. If not I will just hoof the ball up field. Playing a long ball can be a good form of attack especially at our level of soccer. Midfield the key is to keep possession and do off the ball running. If I do not see my strikers in good positions to receive a pass, I would rather play the ball square or backwards to change the focal point of the attack. Without the ball, I do feel the midfielders play a big role in breaking up attacks, that is one aspect of my game which I got to work on. In attack, most strikers will try to go for goal. For me, I will try to link up the midfield and attack. However, my main aim is to constantly look out for chances to play the final through ball. What advice would you offer to those aspiring after you? A: Soccer is not all about going forward. This makes the attack too one dimensional. Playing the ball back or sideways help to spread the play and will open up the opponents' defence. Summarise what soccer means to you and how it fits in the larger scheme of things. A: I guess it's the only sport which all of us been playing since secondary school. We may be in all different ecas like softball, rugby, waterpolo etc, at the end of the day soccer is the only one all of us play and enjoy together. What are your
views on the RAI invitational moving over to the PS2? Ok, just for
the record |