1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:15,307 Speaker 2: The doubleheader is the first game of the season for 4 00:00:15,347 --> 00:00:18,827 Speaker 2: the Wellington Phoenix women and there is a high degree 5 00:00:18,907 --> 00:00:22,627 Speaker 2: of excitement around about the women's side. This season, the 6 00:00:22,667 --> 00:00:26,787 Speaker 2: Phoenix havessigned some exciting new players, including current Football Ferns 7 00:00:26,787 --> 00:00:30,987 Speaker 2: goalkeeper Vick Essen, also CJ Bott and Macy Fraser who's 8 00:00:31,027 --> 00:00:34,347 Speaker 2: returned to the club. They also have five new overseas 9 00:00:34,507 --> 00:00:39,907 Speaker 2: import players. One of those is former Dutch international Tessel Meddach, 10 00:00:40,307 --> 00:00:43,867 Speaker 2: who has spent the last four seasons at Rangers in Scotland, 11 00:00:44,347 --> 00:00:48,027 Speaker 2: where she won six trophies, after also lifting silverware in 12 00:00:48,187 --> 00:00:51,867 Speaker 2: England and in the Netherlands. She's been capped forty four 13 00:00:51,947 --> 00:00:55,107 Speaker 2: times by her country at senior level and played in 14 00:00:55,147 --> 00:00:58,707 Speaker 2: the twenty fifteen FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. Had 15 00:00:58,747 --> 00:01:02,187 Speaker 2: the opportunity to catch up with Tessaw Midhaka recently to 16 00:01:02,227 --> 00:01:04,827 Speaker 2: ask how she was settling into Wellington and how the 17 00:01:04,907 --> 00:01:06,347 Speaker 2: move to the Phoenix had come up. 18 00:01:07,187 --> 00:01:09,147 Speaker 3: First of all, thank you for the welcome. It's it's 19 00:01:09,147 --> 00:01:11,867 Speaker 3: been great to be here in Wellington and New Zealand. 20 00:01:12,187 --> 00:01:15,307 Speaker 3: Five weeks now and I'm really enjoying it. So how 21 00:01:15,347 --> 00:01:18,747 Speaker 3: this whole move came about? So after four years at 22 00:01:18,867 --> 00:01:22,187 Speaker 3: Rangers and in Glasgow in Scotland, I think I was 23 00:01:22,227 --> 00:01:25,227 Speaker 3: ready for something, something new, And when you're at my 24 00:01:25,307 --> 00:01:28,587 Speaker 3: age thirty two years old, it's like okay, what, yeah, 25 00:01:28,627 --> 00:01:30,507 Speaker 3: what are what are we going to do? What am 26 00:01:30,547 --> 00:01:33,627 Speaker 3: I going to do? I'm from the Netherlands, so part 27 00:01:33,667 --> 00:01:36,067 Speaker 3: of me was like, should I sort of maybe try 28 00:01:36,067 --> 00:01:38,467 Speaker 3: and finish the last years of my career back home 29 00:01:38,627 --> 00:01:41,547 Speaker 3: in a Dutch league that is improved improving every year 30 00:01:41,987 --> 00:01:45,907 Speaker 3: played there for the first five years of my yeah, 31 00:01:45,947 --> 00:01:49,947 Speaker 3: my professional career before I moved abroad. Or am I 32 00:01:50,027 --> 00:01:54,627 Speaker 3: going to continue this this wonderful adventure that an international 33 00:01:54,667 --> 00:01:58,907 Speaker 3: football career is. And I opted yeah for the last Yeah, 34 00:01:58,907 --> 00:02:01,947 Speaker 3: that lasts a second option. It helps that my my 35 00:02:02,107 --> 00:02:07,267 Speaker 3: partner is a New Zealander, so that, yeah, made it 36 00:02:07,307 --> 00:02:09,427 Speaker 3: a bit easier to make this decision to to come 37 00:02:09,467 --> 00:02:13,147 Speaker 3: to New Zealand when the option arose when Wellington Phoenix 38 00:02:13,267 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 3: was was interested. So yeah, an opportunity for me to 39 00:02:17,907 --> 00:02:19,467 Speaker 3: to get to know this country a little bit better 40 00:02:19,467 --> 00:02:21,947 Speaker 3: and to explore yet another league. 41 00:02:22,427 --> 00:02:24,987 Speaker 2: So you've been here about five weeks now was it 42 00:02:25,027 --> 00:02:27,347 Speaker 2: what you expected? I know the games haven't started yet, 43 00:02:27,347 --> 00:02:29,587 Speaker 2: but is the the country and the club what what 44 00:02:29,867 --> 00:02:30,787 Speaker 2: you expected it to be? 45 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:34,627 Speaker 3: Well, I wasn't really sure what I had expected. I've 46 00:02:36,387 --> 00:02:39,587 Speaker 3: I've had a a qi wei partner for almost three years, 47 00:02:39,587 --> 00:02:43,427 Speaker 3: so I feel like I'm not completely new to to yeah, 48 00:02:43,507 --> 00:02:46,707 Speaker 3: to to Kiwi culture or to you know, the bicultural 49 00:02:47,947 --> 00:02:51,827 Speaker 3: part sort of former British and part Maudi culture that 50 00:02:51,827 --> 00:02:53,947 Speaker 3: that we have here in this in this beautiful country. 51 00:02:54,027 --> 00:02:58,907 Speaker 3: So but but still to experience the first hakka life 52 00:02:58,987 --> 00:03:02,907 Speaker 3: myself and to learn a few wayata, a few songs 53 00:03:02,907 --> 00:03:05,027 Speaker 3: that we sang together with the local EI here in 54 00:03:05,267 --> 00:03:08,867 Speaker 3: Wellington was those moments have been very special. In those 55 00:03:08,867 --> 00:03:12,187 Speaker 3: first yeah, four to five weeks here, we had a 56 00:03:12,267 --> 00:03:15,067 Speaker 3: dance ceremony at six am upon mind fig. So I 57 00:03:15,107 --> 00:03:20,147 Speaker 3: feel like those have been experiences that have surpassed my expectations, 58 00:03:20,147 --> 00:03:23,707 Speaker 3: I think, and I think makes it all the more worthwhile. 59 00:03:23,827 --> 00:03:25,507 Speaker 3: I'm not just here to play football, but I'm here 60 00:03:25,547 --> 00:03:27,827 Speaker 3: to learn a bit about this country and the culture 61 00:03:27,867 --> 00:03:33,067 Speaker 3: as well. So I think my first experiences have surpassed 62 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:36,427 Speaker 3: my expectations. And I've also really been enjoying my football 63 00:03:36,427 --> 00:03:37,107 Speaker 3: on the bitch. 64 00:03:37,267 --> 00:03:39,507 Speaker 2: Let's talk a bit about that. I know you've played 65 00:03:39,547 --> 00:03:41,907 Speaker 2: previously in midfield, but a lot of your football at 66 00:03:41,987 --> 00:03:44,387 Speaker 2: Ranges was at center back. Is that the role that 67 00:03:44,707 --> 00:03:47,147 Speaker 2: bit of priestmans most likely to use you in here 68 00:03:47,147 --> 00:03:49,427 Speaker 2: on Wellington and as part of the back fall. 69 00:03:50,427 --> 00:03:52,587 Speaker 3: Well, it's not always a back four that we play, 70 00:03:52,627 --> 00:03:55,587 Speaker 3: so back three at times, So it depends a little 71 00:03:55,587 --> 00:03:58,467 Speaker 3: bit on the yeah, I think availability of players and 72 00:03:58,467 --> 00:04:01,387 Speaker 3: on the opposition that we play, and also a little 73 00:04:01,427 --> 00:04:04,107 Speaker 3: bit on the yeah, the style that a manager prefers. 74 00:04:04,107 --> 00:04:06,227 Speaker 4: So I've been in midfielder my whole life. 75 00:04:06,467 --> 00:04:09,427 Speaker 3: When Joe Potter, our previous manager at Rangers, came in 76 00:04:09,427 --> 00:04:12,907 Speaker 3: two years into my time at Rangers, she sort of 77 00:04:12,947 --> 00:04:15,427 Speaker 3: transferred me into a into a center back and we 78 00:04:15,467 --> 00:04:15,987 Speaker 3: went from a. 79 00:04:15,907 --> 00:04:17,507 Speaker 4: Four three three to a three five two. 80 00:04:17,587 --> 00:04:19,867 Speaker 3: So it was one of the this is maybe very 81 00:04:19,867 --> 00:04:22,067 Speaker 3: technical for the for the listeners by the way, but 82 00:04:22,547 --> 00:04:25,147 Speaker 3: I transformed into being one of the three center backs. 83 00:04:25,147 --> 00:04:27,947 Speaker 3: So I'm not your classical center back, but one that 84 00:04:28,107 --> 00:04:31,107 Speaker 3: was allowed to, you know, step into midfield and still 85 00:04:31,147 --> 00:04:33,467 Speaker 3: do what I can do best, which is, you know, 86 00:04:33,787 --> 00:04:39,627 Speaker 3: passes passes forwards. So yeah, it depends a little bit 87 00:04:39,667 --> 00:04:42,187 Speaker 3: on what what the coaches want, and I think Beth 88 00:04:42,227 --> 00:04:44,987 Speaker 3: has seen any coaching staff have seen me now for 89 00:04:44,987 --> 00:04:47,427 Speaker 3: a few weeks in training and in three friendly games 90 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:50,147 Speaker 3: that we've played, so I think you'll see a little 91 00:04:50,187 --> 00:04:53,427 Speaker 3: bit of a mix of me this season. Maybe I'll 92 00:04:53,427 --> 00:04:55,987 Speaker 3: play more to the midfielder than I have done in 93 00:04:56,227 --> 00:04:59,307 Speaker 3: the last two years at Rangers anyway, which which I'm 94 00:04:59,387 --> 00:05:02,587 Speaker 3: enjoying when I play there in games or in training sessions. 95 00:05:02,587 --> 00:05:04,547 Speaker 3: It just allows me to be a little bit higher 96 00:05:04,587 --> 00:05:06,187 Speaker 3: up the bitch and be a bit more involved in 97 00:05:06,707 --> 00:05:10,867 Speaker 3: the action in the opposition books. But I'll still be 98 00:05:10,947 --> 00:05:12,827 Speaker 3: able to do a job at send it back as well. 99 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:16,187 Speaker 3: So I think it depends a little bit on numbers 100 00:05:16,227 --> 00:05:17,227 Speaker 3: as well and availability. 101 00:05:17,667 --> 00:05:19,987 Speaker 2: How do you assist the squad that has been as 102 00:05:20,027 --> 00:05:21,907 Speaker 2: symboled here. You're obviously a big part of it and 103 00:05:21,947 --> 00:05:24,747 Speaker 2: the other important players, but a lot of young kiwis 104 00:05:24,747 --> 00:05:27,667 Speaker 2: as well. How do you evaluate the strength of the squad? 105 00:05:27,827 --> 00:05:29,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think there's a lot of talent in the room, 106 00:05:29,427 --> 00:05:34,707 Speaker 3: which is exciting. We have a few older experienced players 107 00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:38,507 Speaker 3: like myself, but there's a very big group of very. 108 00:05:38,387 --> 00:05:39,387 Speaker 4: Talented young girls. 109 00:05:39,627 --> 00:05:41,347 Speaker 3: A lot of them have been away actually or are 110 00:05:41,427 --> 00:05:44,787 Speaker 3: going away with the under seventeens on the nineteens under twenties. 111 00:05:44,787 --> 00:05:47,307 Speaker 3: So that's been great to see good experience for them, 112 00:05:47,427 --> 00:05:50,747 Speaker 3: which hopefully they'll yeah, learn from and bring back to 113 00:05:50,787 --> 00:05:55,667 Speaker 3: the Phoenix environment. Yeah, I think I'm very excited about, yeah, 114 00:05:55,707 --> 00:05:57,747 Speaker 3: what we can do this season. I think it's important 115 00:05:57,747 --> 00:06:01,307 Speaker 3: to try and get everyone fit so that we can 116 00:06:01,587 --> 00:06:06,907 Speaker 3: utilize the strength that this squad has. We are I 117 00:06:06,947 --> 00:06:09,267 Speaker 3: think we can still sign one more visa players, so 118 00:06:10,227 --> 00:06:10,747 Speaker 3: I'm excited. 119 00:06:10,747 --> 00:06:13,667 Speaker 4: I have no idea who that might be. 120 00:06:13,667 --> 00:06:16,987 Speaker 3: I don't know if the coaches know, but that would be, yeah, 121 00:06:17,627 --> 00:06:20,747 Speaker 3: even better to add another another number to the to 122 00:06:20,787 --> 00:06:21,587 Speaker 3: the squad that we have. 123 00:06:22,667 --> 00:06:23,947 Speaker 4: So I'm excited about what we can do. 124 00:06:24,347 --> 00:06:27,987 Speaker 2: And you bring a vast amount of experience to the squad. 125 00:06:28,227 --> 00:06:30,747 Speaker 2: You've mentioned your age a couple of times. You shouldn't 126 00:06:30,747 --> 00:06:33,227 Speaker 2: do that. You still got plenty of time left, I'm sure, 127 00:06:33,267 --> 00:06:35,307 Speaker 2: but you are coming into an environment where you are 128 00:06:35,627 --> 00:06:38,467 Speaker 2: you know, able to bring experience, international experience some of 129 00:06:38,507 --> 00:06:41,827 Speaker 2: the biggest clubs in Europe. Do you feel a desire 130 00:06:41,907 --> 00:06:44,507 Speaker 2: to pass that experience onto some of the younger members 131 00:06:44,507 --> 00:06:44,987 Speaker 2: of the team. 132 00:06:45,707 --> 00:06:49,187 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do, and It's not something that that I've 133 00:06:49,187 --> 00:06:52,147 Speaker 3: always had, but it sort of comes naturally when you, yeah, 134 00:06:52,187 --> 00:06:56,747 Speaker 3: when you get a bit more experienced, shall we say, so, 135 00:06:56,907 --> 00:06:59,187 Speaker 3: it is something that comes natural to me. 136 00:07:00,707 --> 00:07:00,947 Speaker 4: Yeah. 137 00:07:01,467 --> 00:07:05,227 Speaker 3: I really like seeing players, younger players developed. For example, 138 00:07:05,227 --> 00:07:07,787 Speaker 3: we have in PFL, we have a seventeen year old 139 00:07:07,787 --> 00:07:09,907 Speaker 3: and it's just so exciting what you know she can 140 00:07:09,947 --> 00:07:13,227 Speaker 3: achieve in the next well in this season to come 141 00:07:13,267 --> 00:07:15,987 Speaker 3: and then in the next years. And I do, of 142 00:07:16,027 --> 00:07:19,547 Speaker 3: course want to play my part. I've done my coaching 143 00:07:19,547 --> 00:07:23,307 Speaker 3: batches last year in Scotland, so I've got my uif 144 00:07:23,347 --> 00:07:27,347 Speaker 3: I C and uif I BE coaching license. Probably there's 145 00:07:27,347 --> 00:07:30,427 Speaker 3: probably an equivalent here of the Oceania versions of those 146 00:07:30,427 --> 00:07:33,267 Speaker 3: coaching batches. But yeah, I've done a bit of coaching 147 00:07:33,307 --> 00:07:37,547 Speaker 3: with the Rangers Skills Academy last year to get some 148 00:07:37,627 --> 00:07:40,667 Speaker 3: experience in coaching and it's something that I'm currently still assessing. 149 00:07:40,707 --> 00:07:41,747 Speaker 4: It's been pretty full on. 150 00:07:41,867 --> 00:07:44,627 Speaker 3: But if I could potentially do something similar here at 151 00:07:44,627 --> 00:07:48,587 Speaker 3: the Phoenix Girls or Boys or both, but in the 152 00:07:48,627 --> 00:07:51,267 Speaker 3: academy working with younger players, because that is something that 153 00:07:51,787 --> 00:07:52,987 Speaker 3: excites me, all right. 154 00:07:52,987 --> 00:07:55,307 Speaker 2: And to finish, you've been part of teams that have 155 00:07:55,387 --> 00:07:58,427 Speaker 2: been successful that have won trophies. What are the hallmarks, 156 00:07:58,707 --> 00:08:01,507 Speaker 2: the royal building blocks of successful teams. 157 00:08:02,107 --> 00:08:05,947 Speaker 3: Well, we are obviously still building. So the one of 158 00:08:05,947 --> 00:08:09,107 Speaker 3: the blog would be getting absolute technical clarity on what 159 00:08:09,107 --> 00:08:11,947 Speaker 3: what the coach coaches want in and out of possession. 160 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:14,627 Speaker 3: But that's yeah, that's a bit dry and a bit basic. 161 00:08:14,667 --> 00:08:17,267 Speaker 3: But then, you know, we need to understand our roles, 162 00:08:17,267 --> 00:08:19,307 Speaker 3: and especially me as someone who likes to you know, 163 00:08:19,667 --> 00:08:23,987 Speaker 3: who has been tasked to communicate as much as I can, 164 00:08:24,067 --> 00:08:26,507 Speaker 3: I need to fully understand when and where do we 165 00:08:26,547 --> 00:08:28,387 Speaker 3: want to press how do we keep. 166 00:08:28,267 --> 00:08:29,107 Speaker 4: Possession of the ball. 167 00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:30,867 Speaker 3: But then if we want to take it to the 168 00:08:30,947 --> 00:08:32,827 Speaker 3: next level, which we want to do, we want to 169 00:08:32,867 --> 00:08:37,107 Speaker 3: do something that's never been done before. I think in 170 00:08:37,147 --> 00:08:39,587 Speaker 3: the tough moments, that's when we when when you can 171 00:08:39,627 --> 00:08:42,547 Speaker 3: see the character of a team, the yeah, the strength 172 00:08:42,547 --> 00:08:43,027 Speaker 3: of a team. 173 00:08:43,067 --> 00:08:44,507 Speaker 4: When we're one nailed down, are we. 174 00:08:44,467 --> 00:08:47,907 Speaker 3: Able to to to score us two goals to win 175 00:08:47,987 --> 00:08:50,547 Speaker 3: us the game? So that's when I think we need 176 00:08:50,587 --> 00:08:56,947 Speaker 3: to be comfortable, yeah, communicating because at times we've we've 177 00:08:57,067 --> 00:08:59,747 Speaker 3: done a whole workshop on communication last week. We can 178 00:08:59,947 --> 00:09:02,107 Speaker 3: you know, all get into our own shelves like that's 179 00:09:02,107 --> 00:09:05,507 Speaker 3: when you see, like do you have players in the team, 180 00:09:05,547 --> 00:09:08,507 Speaker 3: whether you're young or old, who can you know, take 181 00:09:08,547 --> 00:09:09,947 Speaker 3: the game by the scruff of the neck, whether it's 182 00:09:09,947 --> 00:09:12,347 Speaker 3: with a tackle, with a with a brilliant past, with 183 00:09:12,467 --> 00:09:16,467 Speaker 3: an individual brilliance, like an action going past two players 184 00:09:16,467 --> 00:09:18,827 Speaker 3: and scoring a goal. That's sort of what we need 185 00:09:18,867 --> 00:09:21,347 Speaker 3: to see if we want to if we want to 186 00:09:21,387 --> 00:09:23,707 Speaker 3: be successful this season. And I'm very excited about the 187 00:09:24,347 --> 00:09:25,507 Speaker 3: other possibilities here. 188 00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:28,947 Speaker 2: That is the very impressive new acquisition, or one of 189 00:09:28,987 --> 00:09:31,867 Speaker 2: the new acquisitions for the Wellington Phoenix women's side, former 190 00:09:31,947 --> 00:09:35,027 Speaker 2: Dutch international tessol Midach, who will be a big part 191 00:09:35,027 --> 00:09:37,747 Speaker 2: of this team this season. Their first game is a 192 00:09:37,827 --> 00:09:42,067 Speaker 2: home game next Saturday Sky Stadium against Canberra, followed by 193 00:09:42,227 --> 00:09:45,587 Speaker 2: the first derby in the A League means Wellington Phoenix 194 00:09:45,627 --> 00:09:47,667 Speaker 2: and Auckland FC. So a big day of football coming 195 00:09:47,827 --> 00:09:50,787 Speaker 2: next Saturday at Sky Stadium in the Capitol. 196 00:09:51,507 --> 00:09:54,667 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 197 00:09:54,787 --> 00:09:58,187 Speaker 1: to news Talks b weekends from midday or follow the 198 00:09:58,227 --> 00:09:59,707 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio.