Interview: Emmanuel Muscat

After having our first interview with Jonathon Bezzina as a successful one, now we meet Rabat’s midfielder Emmanuel Muscat for our second interview of the season.

Manuel when still at the age of 14-16 years you had been playing two sports, football and hockey. At the age of 16 you had to choose one of them. How was it that you chose football?
At the age of 16 I had been chosen to start training with the senior team of Rabat Ajax F.C and the Minor Squad of the National Team so I didn’t have enough time to participate in both sports because I had football training everyday.

When was your Rabat debut? What do you remember about the match?
My first Rabat debut was on the 15th of January 2000 against Zurrieq. That time we were in the Premier Division. I was a substitute and played the last 10mins of the match instead of Charles Borg. I was really pleased to play for the first time with the senior team on the National Pitch Ta` Qali but the result was miserable, we lost 3-1.

So far, Rabat are occupying the top places in the third division, what do you thing about the season so far?
Well the team, coach and committee are all very pleased that we are occupying the top spot at the moment, but I think that we all still need to continue working harder to achieve what we all are working for..PROMOTION.

As a teenager you had been given a chance to train for the Maltese National Youth team. What are your memories of this great experience?
It was a really great experience! I was chosen to be part of the National Under 19 Youth Team coached by Mr. Nardu Farrugia. We used to train three times a week on the grass at the Training Grounds Ta` Qali, which is much better then a hard or artificial ground. I played two friendly matches and I feel that I learned a lot, training with players that today are playing in the Premier League and even the senior National Team.

Coach Joe Gerada joined this year and found a new team with a lot of youngsters. What are your comments about him?

This is my 1st experience being coached by a Maltese coach with the senior squad of Rabat Ajax and I think that Mr. Joe Gerada was capable to get out the best of each one of the players capabilities and build back a team as one, which in my opinion was a really hard task to do after the last two disappointing seasons we had. He understands us and we understand him which most of the foreign coaches are not capable to do so.

As one of the most experienced players in the team, what do you thing about the youngsters coming through this season like: Poalo Ciantar, Dylan Falzon, Kayne Said, Joseph Caruana and Adam Smeir?

I think that if they all keep there feet on the ground they all have a bright future in front of them. They all listen to the older players and of course the coaches’ instructions. Many of them are first eleven players in our squad and are gaining experience which has helped us to what we have achieved so far.

Any comments you’d like to add?

As you already mentioned Etienne our team has a young average age and I believe that
With Mr. Joe Gerada as coach and a few touch ups we can succeed together in the coming seasons and hopefully in better divisions.
I would like to thank you Etienne and all of the people who are again showing interest in the Team. I would like to wish all the luck to the Team and I hope that we keep up the good work we have been doing so far!

Thanks a lot Emmanuel and good luck for the future!!