Interview: Dylan Falzon (10th June 2008)
After receiving promotion from the BOV Second Division, rabatajaxsc.com has decided to meet Rabat’s 21 year old defender Dylan Falzon.
Under
the guidance of coach Joe Gerada we can say that you have been a regular
player in the heart of the Rabat defence in the last three seasons.
You started from a lower point (Third Division) and today you are finding
looking forward for a new experience in the first division. What are
your expectations for next season?
First of all thanks for finding some time in interviewing me.
I have been training with
the senior team for the past 5 years, when I was just 17 years old.
The first 2 years were not the best of the club, but personally I have
gained good experience training with the senior team. Under the guidance
of Dragan Zivkovic and Stojan Simeonov. I also had the chance to play
some first and second division football. At that time I wasn’t
playing in my position and I was still young to get in the first team.
With the arrival of the present coach, my chances of playing first team
football increased. Joe Gerada changed the mentality of our club and
all the players played for each other and as a team. This Coach gave
me the first opportunity to show my qualities as a defender. Despite
playing in the Third Division in my first year as a regular I couldn’t
ask for more as we were promoted from 3rd to 2nd division. I had a good
season.
The year after we didn’t have the same success as I tasted the
year before but on other basis I consider it still as fine season as
I gained more experience playing regularly and in a higher division
This season was definitely
the greatest one for Rabat Ajax and myself, considering the challenge
that the Second division offered this season.With
the help of everyone we made it. Personally I am not so happy with my
overall performances. I also had minor injuries which did not help me.
But with the help of my coach and my team mates it was great to get
promoted yet another time.
Of course, my aim next season is to keep playing first team football.
It will not be easy. But I will surely do my best to improve and play
as much as possible.
Going back in time, Dylan Falzon’s position was a midfielder.
Under coach Joe Gerada you started playing as a stopper. Did this change
in position effect you in anyway and what’s the difference between
a midfielder and a defender considering that you played both of them?
From the age of 10 till
Under 16’s I always played as a holding midfielder. I started
playing another position with the youths team under the guidance of
coach by Carmelo Camilleri as he was the first to the try me as a stopper.
To be honest, I always liked the position of a midfielder more than
a stopper. But with the help of coach Gerada I have improved my game
as a defender and today I find myself happy with this position. The
game of a midfielder and a defender is totally different. As a defender
the most important thing is to keep a clean sheet. A midfielder has
to dictate the game. A midfielder will have more possession of the ball
than a stopper. Playing as a defender makes it more as a challenge with
your opponent.
Dylan, if you would improve one aspect of your game, what would
it be?
At any time in a footballer career no one can say that he is a perfect player. There’s always something to improve. Personally I would like to be more confident when I’m on the ball and make better use of it.
When did you make your Rabat Ajax debut? Any memories from that match?
My first team debut was in the 03/04 season.
We lost 5-3 to St Patrick in the First Division. I played as a winger
in that match. It wasn’t the best debut to remember, but it’s
always nice to play the first game for your club.
Also I would like to mention the game against Qormi in the KO Group
stage, in the begining of season 05/06. It was my debut under Coach
Joe Gerada and we won 1-0 against the strength of Qormi who that season
then went on to get promoted to the First Division as champions. From
than game onwards I didn’t look back and was a regular player
for Rabat Ajax.
At the moment, yourself
as a player surely you are still celebrating this seasons promotion.
Some of these activities
have already passed by, were you happy with the outcome of the supporters
and also with the celebrations that the committee together with the
supporters club had prepared?
After all the work done throughout this
year, the celebrations are the moments we as players are looking forward
for. The two weeks after the match were just great. Now we have our
final activity which will surely end this football season as a great
one. Personally I’d like to thank both committees of the Rabat
Ajax FC and Supporters Club for the initiative taken to organize all
those activities.
Now its time to start preparing for the upcoming season. I’m sure
that everyone now has to concentrate on his tasks and hopefully we will
have an other memorable season in the first division.
Finally, any comments
you’d like to add and also send out to our supporters?
I would like to thank everybody involved in the club which helped our
club get back in the first division. Our support was great. They gave
us the players that extra boost to bring good results, especially in
the promotion decider against Balzan. I’m sure next year we will
have the same support and if possibly more!!! THANKS ALL!!
Hope to cu in August for the next season.
Interviews 2007/08: Kayne Said, Josef Tonna
Interviews: 2006/07: Jonathan Azzopardi, Keith Micallef, Alan Zahra
Interviews: 2005/06: Jonathon Bezzina , Emmanuel Muscat, Adam Smeir , Joe Gerada (Coach)