Interview with our captain

by Matthaeus Grasso - 26th March 2010

1. We sit here just a few days away from the crucial Birkirkara Vs. Valletta match, how are you feeling?

I am feeling good & looking forward to next Sunday's match. As a player you train on a daily basis and make many sacrifices to be in a position to play a game like the one of next Sunday.

Expectations are high for the game and we look forward to going down on the pitch to do our best for our team and our supporters.

2. As one of Birkirkara's most capped players, you have been in this type of situations on several occassions. How important, in your opionion is your influence on the other players as a captain of the club?

It is true, as things stand at the moment, I am one of the most experienced players in the squad. I have played these types of games time and time again in my many years with the club and it is therefore only natural that the youngsters in the team look up to me and the other senior members of our team for influence, help & inspiration. I think that this is only normal and to be expected. From my part, I try to instill confidence in my team mates by keeping the atmosphere serene and calm in training (perhaps even with the help of a few jokes) whilst at the same time ensuring that everybody is aware of the importance of such games and the level of intensity is equal to that required by the Coach.

3. The Valletta supporters would surely love to get a win over our team, do you think that our side is ready to break their hearts ?

Given the heavy investments made by Valletta throughout the past few seasons the pressure is on them to start delivering the results. From our part, our aspirations were much more modest at the beginning of the season. However we now find ourselves as league leaders, one point ahead of Valletta. We are aware of their strength but of ours too and I can assure you that come Sunday we will be doing our best to continue on our recent good run of form and try to maintain our leadership. It will be a tight game, probably very tactical, which could go either way.

4. This clash often attracts a sizeable crowd to the stadium, do you think that continuous support would help the players on the pitch?

Yes definitely. Following a rather disappointing attendance since the beginning of the season, I am hoping that next Sunday's crowd will be the largest of the season with both sets of supporters competing to prove that they are the best support on the island. From our end, it is important that our supporters understand their importance to our game right from the first whistle. Their continuous chanting and supporting is a morale-booster for us players on the pitch. It is important however that our support is constant throughout the 90 minutes, especially if the side begins to struggle. A thorough analysis can then be made at the end of the match, but before that, everybody has to be in unity to try to bring home the result!

5. What is your message to those supporters who have been hurt by some of the past performances, and therefore refuse to come to the stadium and support the team?

All I can say is that this year's team should not be punished for perhaps what people consider to be failures or disappointments of the past. I believe that this season everybody is in agreement that so far the B'Kara team is doing great and as such should be given all the support it deserves. Throughout, we have shown great character and dedication to the shirt we wear and I have no doubt that come next Sunday, will be the same!

In the name of the BirkirkaraFC.com staff and Birkirkara FC supporters I would like to thank you for spending some time to respond to our questions, and wish you and the rest of the clan the best of luck for all of the upcoming matches.

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