 Hey, it's your boy Local FC and we are here with the Western Sydney Wanderers and we are talking pre-season vibes We are talking culture. We are talking heritage and we are talking everything about this big club We're talking to the players the coaching staff and we're getting down to the DNA of what makes this club so special First up we've got my boy my broski Bi aka the big ticket. How are you my guy? Very good. Very good. How are you? Good, man. Good first things first Big question Jordan falls with Jordan ones. I'm going Jordan ones Jordan ones. Yeah, definitely I didn't really wear them too much when I was younger, but as of recent times Put in on a pair. They're pretty they're pretty comfortable. Actually, they're more comfortable than we would have thought So I'm definitely going Jordan ones Cool cool cool and you know JD hooked you up. They hooked me up with a pair of dunks and you got your Jordans on there How you feeling about those? Yeah, appreciate that JD. Thank you very much and yeah Obviously Jordan's always nice to wear. So nice and comfortable and very stylish as well Let's get down to the serious business we're talking about practice Yeah looking forward to it and always good to chat to you always my guy so what I wanted to do here I'm We speak once to twice daily And I know you as a footballer, but most importantly, I know you as a person and I think you're a pretty amazing human being Uncle to my little man, but I want the people to actually get to know who you are as a person off the pitch But also how serious you are about your craft We'll go first off about the locks. We'll start off with those Obviously COVID but is it staying for this season the new look well currently? I don't have a min But yeah, I'll tinker with it a little bit. They'll be here and there Yeah, I don't think I want them to be like permanent So I'll be washing them out and stuff like that, but I'll definitely be rocking them throughout some games That's for sure and has the do-rag come out the training interview No, the do-rag stays at home stays at home anywhere when I need to go to bed So the do-rags been staying at home at the moment Obviously, you know coming to the Wanderers You know about the club and it's rich history and in such a short space of time and what they've created We're gonna go to you know my favorite time of football season is the start of the season It's not because pre-season's ending because I know how you feel. I know that but for me. I love the start of a season and I love Jersey's I love Jersey culture Can you run us through the new home and away kids? I think they're on point. There's so much heritage to them But can you run me through your foot first thoughts and what you told me when you saw them? Well, obviously I remembered when I played against Wanderers in the first season though here. Are you playing for? Central Coast Yeah, I play for Central Coast and the first season the Wanderers came in I remember the jerseys looked very similar to this so obviously being year 10 for the Wanderers it was a nice little touch and Obviously, I'd like both of the jerseys and I like the gold detail especially on the home kit So I'm looking forward to to wearing that jersey and seeing all the fans in the jerseys as well to be honest and then I think there's the X the 10 on the back as well if you flip that Yeah, I think they're real like the ode to the past and moving into it like a modern era with yourself is really really special and How important is it to have that heritage not only in the club but in the jersey itself as well? I think it's very important. Obviously the fans I think jerseys are very much for the fans as well And they need to feel connected and have that sort of love for the jersey and that sort of passion and know that I think they're kind of being listened to so Obviously from all the feedback that I think everyone loves the jerseys so far and Hopefully we can have a six successful season in them as well Preseason vibes you are looking fit strong How's it been? This is your first full preseason in a while. How's it how's it come across? Yeah, it's been it's been very good Putting in a lot of hard work and like you said, this my first full preseason in a while with no actually been able to have a Break as well. So I've enjoyed it You don't realize how important preseason is until you have to try and catch up and make up for the lost time And it's you think it's easier, but then once you're actually in it, and you're like damn I would have been nice to have one So it's always it's always good and obviously it's been hard work, but That's necessary and it's been enjoyable Obviously we'll just touch on last year your preseason, you know It was interrupted for other reasons which will park the bus on that but You know first season it's always kind of I look at it for a play It's getting your feet we're getting used to surroundings and coming into the second season How hard was that for you last year to deal with what you had to deal with but then like not have that preseason base Which you're getting now. How are you feeling physically and mentally? Yeah, obviously like you said last season was always a bit of a hard transition but Also, it was like you said it was good to to get used to the Surroundings find your feet and all that sort of stuff So coming in this season and having a preseason for me has been been crucial and very important Knock on wood. I've not had like any injuries or any niggles So I've participated throughout the whole of preseason, which I've enjoyed very much So like I said, just put in in the groundwork put in the hard work and Come season. Hopefully that all all comes together. I know how True you are to your craft and how seriously you take your profession How is that in how is that part of your process in preseason making sure you're not only doing all the teamwork But you're making sure you're doing things to make yourself a better version than you were last year in the year before Well, yeah for me I've always considered myself to be like super professional and make sure that I do everything in my power to To be able to perform at my best and make sure that when I do Do like come off a game or come out of a training session that I have no regrets And I know okay Save results might not go your way or things might not happen for you But I know I can walk off and say to myself that I gave everything I could and I tried every everything possible So yeah in terms of like being in the gym I'm always in the gym to make sure like that I am Keeping fit and not getting injured and obviously last season for myself was good that I was able to be Be available for selection for every game. So Since I had like my major surgery a few years ago I I didn't think that that had happened So that was for me a little little milestone and I was very proud of that so just making sure I have my routine and I keep to it and Try and building it and always try to be bigger stronger faster, whatever it may be and then on the pitch as well just In terms of yeah in terms of your positional play your your finishing all those sort of things All all stuff I try to work on and then also just in terms of like tactically what you can learn what you can watch as well Whether it's watching your stuff or watching people at the highest level And seeing what they do and trying to apply it to your game Yeah, we love one of the other questions you're a student of the game We we constantly have our whatsapps and our calls and it's a daily You know it's like looking at other players who are some of the players that you look overseas that you know We constantly machine guy messaging each other like I just saw what Lukaku did today Did you see how he's doing that role? But who are the players that you're looking at and what are you trying to take from their games to add it into yours? Yeah, I'll definitely say someone like Lukaku at the moment the way his movement and stuff like that and then You know me, but someone I always will always look at his Terry Omri. Yeah, so Just the way he moved and what he did was Was special so he's obviously someone you try and emulate obviously these players at the highest level so Yeah, it's hard to replicate that and there's a reason they're there But if you can take a little bit from that and try and adapt it to your game And if it can help you then that's always it's always nice I'm just to go back to the jerseys quickly to two questions Obviously with jerseys They're starting to come more important off the pitch than they are on for the way they look You know that as well as anyone So how do you think that the fans and the crowd will look wearing that off pitch and secondly when you look at the jersey as we said It's the history it goes back to the OG jerseys Like who are some of the players that come to mind first for you like for me It's like Shinji just comes to mind when I think of Wanderers and and Tariq Oric Like I just think of these guys Who do you think of and what are your thoughts on that how that will be in the terraces for the fans? Oh, I think I think they'll look like like I said it would be nice to see all the fans We're in the jerseys, especially these new ones at home games and away games as well And I think yeah off the pitch like you said jerseys are very important these days So I think they'll they'll match well with whatever our fans were and then yeah for For for the jerseys. I think obviously like you said Shinji Oh, no Even topple Stanley I think of the names that come for me because obviously I played against them as well and Shinji Yeah, it was a was a great play in the league and actually enjoyed watching him and playing against him as well So, you know, I think definitely Shinji Oh, no for me And what's it like, you know, you came to Wanderers and you understand how big a club it is and you saw that You know last year being here, but what's it like putting the jersey on like is there something special like you grew up in the In the West is there something special like you know that you're representing the people around here as well Yeah, it's definitely special Obviously it's a hard working area and You can tell by the fans how passionate they are and it really means a lot and putting on the jerseys is definitely a privilege and Obviously you always try to you always try your best and try your hardest to make sure that you're putting in Performances and trying to get results that they will make the the fans happy and make this club successful again Um, obviously we do a pre pre season to keep you in check and keep you fit With senior my brother. You're always in charge of the beats So what what is on your playlist at the moment Afro beats hip-hop? What are we talking? Yeah, well, I'm always a mixture of Afro beats hip-hop and R&B But as of late, I've been listening to meek mills new one Being listening to a bit of Kanye West and Chris Brown as well and then um, yeah, I've always got like whiz kid Davido as well in in that mix That leads me on to my next question You consider yourself a leader when it comes to African Australian footballers You're kind of the one that's broken the door down and you've been in the league a long time And that's something that I know speaking to you so much that means a lot to you and Something that you really want to take charge of moving forward How much does that mean to you and and also the other thing that we've spoken about is the narrative around? African Australian football as it seems to be that it's just one story that comes out that they came from a certain area that How much do you want to be part of that and how much do you want to change that? We'll be part of that. Oh, yeah for me. It's obviously a big. Yeah, it's a big thing. I'm very proud of my heritage I I grew up in a Nigerian home and yeah I've been privileged enough to to live in Australia as well But I've definitely not looked lost my heritage and I'm super proud of that as well So to be a part of that and beat to be I would say you're African Australian is Is something nice and I think I've probably it was one of the First that kind of played in the A-League I would say that grew up here as well. So It's always nice to see like other African Australian young players coming through now and enjoying themselves and expressing themselves I love all the dancers there. They're doing and stuff like that. So it's obviously a huge huge thing to me and I'm I'm very very I would say How would I say it I would love to to make sure that I am involved in that sort of stuff and moving forward that I can have a Bit more of a imprint and how do we Have the next Bernier beanies coming through are we doing enough like I know they have the African nations at the club here But is football in Australia do we talk about being diverse and multicultural? Are we doing enough in the communities to bring players through? I Would say we can do more. I think in I think in every sort of like culture We can we could we could see more players from different Origins and backgrounds playing in the professionally. I'd love to think that that's possible. So I would say we can do more In terms of how that's where it becomes difficult and I'm not gonna say I know But I would love to say that we should be able to see more diversity and see more See more players of different races playing in the league And something that we'll touch upon because I think we need to touch upon it It's really important is something that you had to deal with and we dealt with it with you Was the races and that you received last year and that was in the league. How did you and for me? I thought the greatest thing was The way you carry yourself. I don't think I've found anyone that is so chilled But just so strong, but your key thing was education. You didn't want any any ramifications You just want education and things to get better. How did you? feel with that and then also The league not how did you feel that? It was kind of just brushed to the side. I had that make you feel personally. Oh personally, obviously It's it's not a nice feeling because it's something that I had to go through and there's obviously Younger players as well that had to go through it But in terms of from like the club yourself and like the PFA I was I was happy with their response Though and the way they help but in terms of a wider thing. Yeah, obviously wasn't it wasn't nice because you see other younger plays Obviously, I dealt with it the way I did it's and everyone's different But was that part of the process of what you stand out because there was younger guys that don't have a voice Yeah, I would say for sure because obviously they might not know how to deal with it or what avenue to go through So I felt that I needed to needed to say something about it and address it and hopefully that Created the topic and it can be addressed in a more suitable manner and a faster manner when it when it arises next time We'll touch on last season for you 14 starts seven assists four goals How what when you look back and as I said you're a student of the game when you look back at what you produced in The time that you played and as you said you were available for every minute How do you feel about you know your season last year? Oh, obviously like we we touched on earlier To start with like preseason obviously it wasn't wasn't a wasn't great. We did. I think I could park that In terms of a collective with the team not being here I think that came in maybe two weeks before the season started So I don't think people realize how tough that is obviously you don't want to use that in an excuse But it would have been nice to start with the team from the beginning of preseason and start to Joel and create relationships with all the players from then but Yeah, when it comes down to it first season, I'll say I'm happy But obviously I want to do more and I want to be better and I know I can be better So I know with this preseason and everything like that that I've been making sure I put in the work to To be better than last season When we talk about Western Sydney Wanderers, we talk about as being a big club that's something we always chat about but Growing up as I said, we both grown up in the inner West played a lot of our football in Western Sydney There's a special DNA that if you come from if you play if you've grown up playing football in the West for me personally, it's that You you have a chip on your shoulder No one can mess with you But if you can play in these parts out here, you can play you can hang with anyone in the country How do you feel about that and how important is that to having your DNA and also about having a chip on your shoulder as well? Yeah, it's super important. Obviously. I grew up playing at Marconi in Blacktown when I was a junior So I like you said I know these parts very well and Those teams normally the teams from these areas were always the best like you wanted to play at Marconi You wanted to play at Blacktown and you those were the big club So obviously it was it was always enjoyable and I think it did give you like a bit of that edge and street smart as well Just because it wasn't always fancy or it wasn't always nice, but you definitely enjoyed yourself. So It's always it's always very important to to remember that and then on terms of the chip of the shoulder Yeah, I think obviously when you're out from out West you're like hard-working your So everything is a bit tougher for you. So Yeah, having that chip on your shoulder. I think it only motivates you You know, it only makes you want to be better and make sure you prove people wrong And there's also I think a very high football IQ out out here You've got to be able to play but you've got to be able to look after yourself as well last year Obviously missed out on the finals, which was disappointing Very very close. I felt if you guys Got in there. You actually would have done some damage I mean, you know most goals club history, which I don't think too many people know about second most goals in the league Where where did where did that missing step go? It wasn't just one game, but I felt you know, watching every game last year You were in every game. Where was Where did it kind of not happen and how do you rectify that this year? Do I ask do I wait for Robo for that one? That's that's for his job, isn't it? But yeah, that's definitely a tough question. I don't know if you can pin point one thing Yeah, I just maybe just as a collective we like you said we're always in it, but just Couldn't get over that final hurdle maybe in like every little game. That's there was like a tipping point and we just didn't didn't manage to get over that but Yeah in terms of rectifying that obviously we've brought in some new faces And a lot more people again that have been successful in the league So I think with the new additions Hopefully and the players that have stayed and the young boys that have come through that we have the right mixture and that we do Start from the beginning in terms of like how we train and everything like that to build that sort of mentality and that sort of culture that We we can make that next step because like you said, I think last season we're always there there abouts But it's about making that next step and Really being do you want to be the best and do you want to win like in in the end? That's what we're here to do and that's what we're paid to do and That's got to be your mindset that if you can be the best you can be individually collectively and Obviously if you set your standards high and then if you fall short you fall short But if you don't set your standards high from the beginning then what do you what do you what are we here for like? We're here to end up winning. So that's how I see it more. We we talk about the DNA of the club and the culture There were moments last year where incidents happened on the pitch and and you made your you made yourself present You were backing up you like these are my guys. You don't you don't fuck with us like How important is that to as a team as a collective to be doing things like that on the pitch? It's about the football. It's about winning But it's like hey you mess with one of us you mess with all of us Yeah, definitely. I think you've always got to have each other's back and You could see especially like I would remember Like the Darby's always bring that out in you because it's just how big the game is But you've always got to try and replicate that in a game that I guess you're not going to have as big a crowd Where it's not as intense. So that's about replicating it in those games as well So obviously the Darby just brings that out of you because obviously is that it? So that obviously does that brings it out of you But it's about when there's not as big a crowd where it's not as an intense game where the cameras are there and stuff Like that being able to do it then as well. I think is is just as important So again, like I said, it comes down to what do we actually want to achieve? individually collectively and You've got a strive to be the best. Otherwise, yeah, what a game like I said, what do we really do? Three more. Do you feel I know you as a person and as a footballer. Do you feel misunderstood? Yeah, I would say so I think people don't really Because you don't do you don't really do me like you don't do this You keep to yourself. You don't play the game. You're just beat But do you feel like at times misunderstood and that just goes okay I'm just gonna do my football thing and judge me on that. Yeah, I think so. I think yeah, maybe people cause I'm Yeah, keep to myself or they don't really know me or they choose not to really know me or for whatever reason Yeah, I think maybe you could tell I'm a bit misunderstood, but Yeah, he lazy definitely not lazy. I know I'm one of the hardest workers So I'm definitely not lazy, but yeah, I'll tell you I'm misunderstood for sure Yeah I think we'd like watching the games last year like it was like we spoke about it as well Like if you don't do a 50 meter round with the ball like you've had a bad day the office Like it's like but that's not normal like it's people just expect you to get the ball and go. Yeah Yeah, I feel that sometimes yeah that yeah, I can't really just Work my way into the game or like they expect something special from me all the time But look, I guess that sort of expectation is is is there and I've just got to work with them and Try and block it out and then make sure I deliver when I when I have the opportunity and when I have the chance last two for me Something we spoke about I think kind of halfway through last year, but definitely in the offseason We've spoken about a lot is the leadership Your coach called for it last year. We see that in you. How are you? Trying to bring that out in not only preseason I think you showed it last year in spurt But how are you trying to bring that out preseason and in into the new season as well? I think yeah for me. It's just about Yeah, like kind of like you said, you've probably seen in spurts, but kind of like bringing that out every day And then also I would say like trying to help like the young boys and stuff like that I've I've enjoyed that and I've always found like I would want to be when I was young I would want to be an older player that the young boys can talk to and yeah I'm gonna be hard and stuff because I I have high expectations and I want us to do well But they can talk to me and if they want to get advice or anything like that I'm always there and that I want to try and actually be there to help them And so that's how I remember like older boys that helped me I would want it to be the same like that as well You have a winning mentality. I know that you want to achieve greatness You're in your prime now and you know that these are the years you need to make things happen Now you've won at the Mariners. You've won a championship at the club and then And you won in the K League like you're a winner like how important is that for you to do here and what are your That's your team goals and then what are your your personal goals? Do you want to be back in the national team? Is that something you see is like I want to win here with the Wanderers And I want to be you know playing at the biggest level level Well, yeah, like you said, I've won a few a few things so Got the ring to show Yeah, definitely I want to ultimately like I've said before if We're here to play football, but Ultimately your end goal has to be winning like it has to be winning something otherwise It's a it's a waste of time and To be honest like I don't see why we wouldn't have our standard set that high because That's what we're here to do. Like do we want to be better collectively individually? Yes, of course But you want to win things and Obviously like last season when we would win a game at home Or like when we won the Derby you have that high But if you take it and you win the win a grand final for example the high you get on that is It's unexplainable you you can't even put in and you don't you don't get many You don't get many chances of that. No, you don't you don't and I see it like this is A club that should be doing that so Yeah, obviously you got to you got to do all the hard work and it's a lot of it's a lot It's a lot of like a process to get there and you have to take a lot of small steps to get there, but If you can you can try and implement that every day and Hopefully have the right pieces and have a bit of luck along the way that you can do that And personally, what are the what are the goals personally? Oh, yeah Well, obviously if we're if we're to win things and be successful then Personally that only puts me in a better position and yeah, I'd love to be back in the soccerers like anyone else. So If I'm to do well individually and as a group I only see that be only easier and That would kind of take care of itself On the mental side of the game, obviously it's been tough for everyone. Not just footballers the whole community One thing that you you've touched base on that you've Enjoyed that people probably don't realize before The last two years you're away for what five five years. Yeah four or five years Like how important for your mental side was it just nice to be home again and have like your mom at the game And your sister's like we sit there with your family Like how important is that for you just you were saying like just to catch up for a coffee with us or go for dinner Like there's small things, but how important was that for you mentally? Oh, that was yeah It was massive obviously like you said I'd been away from home for for a long time So to come back and spend time with my family and my friends and then have my family in the stands and Watching games was always it's always nice and it actually like reminded me when I was a Younger player and how nice it was to have them there. So it was it was enjoyable and Yeah, I'm looking forward to having my family and friends at games and stuff and yeah, like you said going to dinner and all that sort of stuff and Yeah, it was it was just very nice to have that. That's it my boy. Always a pleasure. Thank you very much