1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk zed B. 3 00:00:12,587 --> 00:00:15,707 Speaker 2: Bernanda Pinick who joins us now. Nanda, thanks for taking 4 00:00:15,707 --> 00:00:17,867 Speaker 2: the time. I guess at the start of the week 5 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:19,507 Speaker 2: you didn't know what was going to happen last night. 6 00:00:19,507 --> 00:00:21,787 Speaker 2: It might have been that you needed a draw this 7 00:00:21,827 --> 00:00:24,467 Speaker 2: afternoon at least against Perth to secure the Premier's Play. 8 00:00:24,667 --> 00:00:26,467 Speaker 2: You don't now, of course, but at the start of 9 00:00:26,467 --> 00:00:29,027 Speaker 2: the week and across the week, was there a conscious 10 00:00:29,027 --> 00:00:31,627 Speaker 2: effort to keep things as normal as possible and to 11 00:00:32,107 --> 00:00:33,427 Speaker 2: stay grounded, stay focused. 12 00:00:34,507 --> 00:00:38,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, definitely for sure. Even though Pertha at the 13 00:00:38,147 --> 00:00:41,067 Speaker 3: bottom of the table, we lost them last time, so 14 00:00:41,427 --> 00:00:43,627 Speaker 3: we still remember that. So we want to give one 15 00:00:43,667 --> 00:00:45,787 Speaker 3: back to them, so to speak, and hopefully we can 16 00:00:45,867 --> 00:00:48,427 Speaker 3: yet put on a really good performance at our last 17 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:50,227 Speaker 3: home game. So yeah, we're all really excited. 18 00:00:50,307 --> 00:00:51,547 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that was a bit of an ourlly, 19 00:00:51,707 --> 00:00:54,387 Speaker 2: wasn't it. The loss to Perth only two losses all season. 20 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:57,987 Speaker 2: They're the only team to have beaten you over in Australia. 21 00:00:58,307 --> 00:01:00,627 Speaker 2: What happened that night? Have you looked back at that game? 22 00:01:00,707 --> 00:01:02,987 Speaker 2: Is there anything you can take from it that will 23 00:01:02,987 --> 00:01:03,867 Speaker 2: be useful today. 24 00:01:04,307 --> 00:01:06,947 Speaker 3: I haven't looked back at it since we've played there 25 00:01:07,227 --> 00:01:09,387 Speaker 3: a long time ago. Now I do remember that. Yeah, 26 00:01:09,387 --> 00:01:11,587 Speaker 3: we had a lot of chances that we didn't manage 27 00:01:11,627 --> 00:01:14,387 Speaker 3: to score, So I think we were a bit unlucky 28 00:01:14,387 --> 00:01:17,347 Speaker 3: not to score in that game. So hopefully we can. Yeah, 29 00:01:17,547 --> 00:01:19,787 Speaker 3: obviously put our chances away in this game. 30 00:01:20,147 --> 00:01:22,147 Speaker 2: So the success of the side's been built on a 31 00:01:22,227 --> 00:01:25,427 Speaker 2: number of factors, one of which is the best defense 32 00:01:25,467 --> 00:01:28,547 Speaker 2: in the league, just twenty three goals conceded in twenty 33 00:01:28,547 --> 00:01:31,947 Speaker 2: four matches, eleven clean sheets. As a defender yourself, Nando, 34 00:01:32,227 --> 00:01:34,387 Speaker 2: how much pride do you take in stats like that. 35 00:01:34,987 --> 00:01:37,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it's amazing as a defender, but also 36 00:01:37,747 --> 00:01:40,027 Speaker 3: for the whole team. I don't think it's just the 37 00:01:40,747 --> 00:01:43,667 Speaker 3: defenders that played their part with that. I think it's 38 00:01:43,707 --> 00:01:45,987 Speaker 3: from the front, from the strikers. Obviously we have Alex 39 00:01:46,067 --> 00:01:48,547 Speaker 3: and goal who's been Yeah, I think amazing for us, 40 00:01:48,787 --> 00:01:50,587 Speaker 3: but it's the whole team in general working hard for 41 00:01:50,627 --> 00:01:53,867 Speaker 3: each other keeping that ball out of our net. So yeah, 42 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:54,427 Speaker 3: it's been good. 43 00:01:54,587 --> 00:01:58,267 Speaker 2: The back five has been really consistent with Alex Paorsan 44 00:01:58,347 --> 00:02:02,387 Speaker 2: goal yourself, Hiroki Sakai, Francis Ter Vreez. You've all played 45 00:02:02,427 --> 00:02:06,187 Speaker 2: pretty much every game, Dan Hall, who came back from injury. 46 00:02:06,227 --> 00:02:08,867 Speaker 2: Tom Smith was there while he was injured. So how 47 00:02:08,947 --> 00:02:11,547 Speaker 2: much has that consistency helped having pretty much the same 48 00:02:11,587 --> 00:02:13,067 Speaker 2: guys week in week out. 49 00:02:13,867 --> 00:02:16,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been great obviously, So we've Yeah, we've kind of, 50 00:02:17,467 --> 00:02:19,787 Speaker 3: I guess improved together since the start of the season, 51 00:02:19,827 --> 00:02:22,387 Speaker 3: although we had a obviously a very good start, keeping 52 00:02:22,587 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 3: a bunch of clean sheets at the start. But I 53 00:02:25,027 --> 00:02:27,067 Speaker 3: think over the course of the season, Yeah, you learn 54 00:02:27,187 --> 00:02:29,867 Speaker 3: each other's abilities, what they're good at, what there may 55 00:02:29,907 --> 00:02:31,347 Speaker 3: be not so good at, so you can help them 56 00:02:31,387 --> 00:02:34,387 Speaker 3: out in certain moments. And that's really helped us throughout 57 00:02:34,427 --> 00:02:38,787 Speaker 3: the season, getting through tough games so that we can, yeah, 58 00:02:38,787 --> 00:02:41,667 Speaker 3: obviously have the best defense of the league. 59 00:02:42,187 --> 00:02:46,827 Speaker 2: Are I will to somehow articulate your captain, Hiroki Sakai's 60 00:02:47,427 --> 00:02:48,827 Speaker 2: influence on your playing group. 61 00:02:49,747 --> 00:02:53,347 Speaker 3: Wow, that's very difficult. I think he's incredible as a 62 00:02:53,387 --> 00:02:56,547 Speaker 3: player and as a human being. Yeah, I've said it before. 63 00:02:56,547 --> 00:02:59,187 Speaker 3: It's a privilege to be with them at training and 64 00:02:59,507 --> 00:03:03,027 Speaker 3: obviously play with him. Yeah, I think he's been amazing 65 00:03:03,107 --> 00:03:05,827 Speaker 3: for us. I learned from him, yeah, every single day, 66 00:03:05,827 --> 00:03:08,987 Speaker 3: and I love just watching him play played football as well. 67 00:03:09,067 --> 00:03:12,067 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think for us he's been absolutely amazing 68 00:03:12,147 --> 00:03:12,907 Speaker 3: to be honest, and. 69 00:03:12,947 --> 00:03:15,467 Speaker 2: The man behind you, Alex Paulson. He leads the league 70 00:03:15,507 --> 00:03:17,467 Speaker 2: in a lot of the goalkeeping stats in terms of 71 00:03:17,627 --> 00:03:20,667 Speaker 2: clean sheets and safe percentages, things like that. Can you 72 00:03:20,667 --> 00:03:23,387 Speaker 2: give us an idea of how Alex Paulson compares to 73 00:03:23,627 --> 00:03:25,427 Speaker 2: some of the other goalkeepers you've played in front of. 74 00:03:26,987 --> 00:03:29,947 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think Ap has been amazing, especially this season. 75 00:03:30,067 --> 00:03:32,187 Speaker 3: So before the season, I hadn't really played I don't 76 00:03:32,187 --> 00:03:34,827 Speaker 3: know if they've actually ever played with him before in 77 00:03:34,907 --> 00:03:37,347 Speaker 3: a competitive match, so I didn't know too much of 78 00:03:37,467 --> 00:03:40,627 Speaker 3: what to expect. But yeah, he's been amazing for us. 79 00:03:40,667 --> 00:03:42,427 Speaker 3: I think he's grown a lot, and he has a 80 00:03:42,467 --> 00:03:46,187 Speaker 3: lot of aura and prisons, so I think some teams 81 00:03:46,227 --> 00:03:48,707 Speaker 3: are almost worried when they face him because I know 82 00:03:48,787 --> 00:03:50,827 Speaker 3: that if I make a mistake or makes a mistake 83 00:03:50,867 --> 00:03:53,267 Speaker 3: and the striker runs throng goal, he still has yeh 84 00:03:53,307 --> 00:03:57,187 Speaker 3: Alex debat, which is tough enough. So yeah, I think 85 00:03:57,507 --> 00:03:59,827 Speaker 3: he's going to be top top keeper. He already is, 86 00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:01,107 Speaker 3: so yeah, Yeah. 87 00:04:00,947 --> 00:04:04,867 Speaker 2: I love that description aura. That describes it perfectly. You've 88 00:04:04,907 --> 00:04:06,707 Speaker 2: played in front of a bunch of goalkeep because I'm 89 00:04:06,707 --> 00:04:10,587 Speaker 2: sure some of who wouldn't have been quite so effective. 90 00:04:10,747 --> 00:04:13,027 Speaker 2: Is there a real security in having someone like him 91 00:04:13,067 --> 00:04:13,467 Speaker 2: behind you? 92 00:04:14,427 --> 00:04:17,147 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, definitely. I think Alexi he's not only good 93 00:04:17,187 --> 00:04:18,907 Speaker 3: with his hands, but he's good with his seat as well. 94 00:04:18,987 --> 00:04:21,147 Speaker 3: So if we're in trouble playing out from the back, 95 00:04:21,187 --> 00:04:23,667 Speaker 3: then I know that Alex is there to help us 96 00:04:23,707 --> 00:04:26,067 Speaker 3: out with that area as well. So yeah, for us, 97 00:04:26,147 --> 00:04:28,667 Speaker 3: it's it's been amazing to have him there for every 98 00:04:28,707 --> 00:04:31,947 Speaker 3: single game, and I know that it's it's really difficult 99 00:04:31,947 --> 00:04:34,827 Speaker 3: for the opposition to score, so that really helps us 100 00:04:34,827 --> 00:04:35,387 Speaker 3: out and gives. 101 00:04:35,307 --> 00:04:38,467 Speaker 2: Us confidence and down the other end. Nando, four goals 102 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:40,627 Speaker 2: this season for you as well, how much of you 103 00:04:40,787 --> 00:04:43,267 Speaker 2: enjoyed contributing the attacking end as well? 104 00:04:43,987 --> 00:04:45,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, it's been a bit new to me. I 105 00:04:45,507 --> 00:04:47,987 Speaker 3: haven't scored too many goals, but obviously really want to 106 00:04:48,387 --> 00:04:51,147 Speaker 3: improve in all areas of my game, and yeah, obviously 107 00:04:51,187 --> 00:04:54,747 Speaker 3: scoring it as one of them. So that's been really enjoyable. 108 00:04:55,107 --> 00:04:58,427 Speaker 3: Hopefully get one or two more before the season is finished. 109 00:04:59,267 --> 00:05:01,027 Speaker 3: But yeah, no, it's been it's been great. But it's 110 00:05:01,027 --> 00:05:04,147 Speaker 3: also the team created a lot of opportunities from from 111 00:05:04,227 --> 00:05:07,347 Speaker 3: set pieces and corners, which is been where most of 112 00:05:07,427 --> 00:05:09,507 Speaker 3: my goals had come from, so if not all of them. 113 00:05:09,587 --> 00:05:11,507 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's been really good. Now. 114 00:05:11,587 --> 00:05:14,187 Speaker 2: Have you pointed out to your central defensive partner Dan 115 00:05:14,347 --> 00:05:17,467 Speaker 2: Hall that he hasn't yet scored his first goal for 116 00:05:17,547 --> 00:05:18,147 Speaker 2: Auckland FC. 117 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:21,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, there is a little joke going around between the 118 00:05:21,827 --> 00:05:24,547 Speaker 3: defenders who can score the most goals, But yeah, I 119 00:05:24,547 --> 00:05:27,627 Speaker 3: think there's one coming for Dan. So maybe it's this weekend. 120 00:05:27,747 --> 00:05:31,667 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe today is the day you were overseas for 121 00:05:31,747 --> 00:05:34,267 Speaker 2: a long time, Nando, playing in Europe for five years. 122 00:05:34,827 --> 00:05:36,907 Speaker 2: How much convincing did you need to come back to 123 00:05:36,947 --> 00:05:38,627 Speaker 2: Walkland after so much time away? 124 00:05:39,947 --> 00:05:42,467 Speaker 3: Yeah, obviously a little bit. I didn't know what the 125 00:05:42,547 --> 00:05:44,347 Speaker 3: plan was going to be for me. I knew that 126 00:05:44,507 --> 00:05:46,467 Speaker 3: I wanted to get out of Ireland at the time, 127 00:05:47,787 --> 00:05:50,227 Speaker 3: and that New Zealand or Auckland Sea was one of 128 00:05:50,267 --> 00:05:53,547 Speaker 3: the options. Obviously, because the club had never played in 129 00:05:53,627 --> 00:05:55,587 Speaker 3: the A League before, I didn't know too much what 130 00:05:55,707 --> 00:05:59,267 Speaker 3: to expect, and there was just sort of I heard 131 00:05:59,307 --> 00:06:00,787 Speaker 3: that there was going to be a club, but there 132 00:06:00,907 --> 00:06:03,387 Speaker 3: was no coach yet, there were no players, so there's 133 00:06:03,467 --> 00:06:05,507 Speaker 3: kind of like, okay, let's wait and see a little bit, 134 00:06:05,587 --> 00:06:08,467 Speaker 3: what's what's going to happened? And then once the yeah, 135 00:06:08,547 --> 00:06:10,467 Speaker 3: once the coach was named, and then Danny came on 136 00:06:10,587 --> 00:06:13,587 Speaker 3: board to us worked before, and there's a bunch of 137 00:06:13,707 --> 00:06:16,427 Speaker 3: players from the Alllites obviously and some some good friends 138 00:06:16,467 --> 00:06:19,827 Speaker 3: of mine. It didn't need too much more convincing than that. 139 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:23,147 Speaker 2: So once you did get together and the imports all 140 00:06:23,267 --> 00:06:26,867 Speaker 2: arrived and you started training together, did it feel like 141 00:06:26,987 --> 00:06:29,227 Speaker 2: this would be a team that would be challenging for 142 00:06:29,307 --> 00:06:30,427 Speaker 2: silverware straight away? 143 00:06:32,627 --> 00:06:35,787 Speaker 3: At the very start? Probably not, Because we'd never played 144 00:06:36,107 --> 00:06:40,427 Speaker 3: together before. We didn't know. There was sort of unexpectedness, 145 00:06:40,507 --> 00:06:43,427 Speaker 3: if if that's a word, or apprehension of what was 146 00:06:43,427 --> 00:06:45,947 Speaker 3: going to happen that season. Uh, you could sense that 147 00:06:46,067 --> 00:06:48,707 Speaker 3: we had a yeah, obviously a really good group of 148 00:06:48,747 --> 00:06:52,507 Speaker 3: players as football players, but also as people. I think 149 00:06:52,547 --> 00:06:56,107 Speaker 3: we have really a really good group of humble, humble 150 00:06:56,147 --> 00:06:58,907 Speaker 3: players and humble people. So I think that's really in 151 00:06:59,067 --> 00:07:01,267 Speaker 3: one of our strengths this season. We've all stuck together 152 00:07:02,107 --> 00:07:05,307 Speaker 3: throughout the yeah, good times and the time. So yeah, 153 00:07:05,307 --> 00:07:07,267 Speaker 3: I think that's that's really helped us. 154 00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:09,867 Speaker 2: And you're still pretty young. I mean, you've got many 155 00:07:09,947 --> 00:07:12,507 Speaker 2: many more years ahead of you as a professional footballer. 156 00:07:12,627 --> 00:07:14,827 Speaker 2: Is it your ambition Nando to play overseas again at 157 00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:15,307 Speaker 2: some stage? 158 00:07:15,947 --> 00:07:20,067 Speaker 3: Ah, yeah, definitely, definitely. Obviously I'm enjoying the season as 159 00:07:20,147 --> 00:07:23,707 Speaker 3: much as as much as I can, and then yeah, 160 00:07:23,707 --> 00:07:25,707 Speaker 3: I don't know. I have a three year contract with Auckland, 161 00:07:25,787 --> 00:07:28,147 Speaker 3: so I'm really enjoying my time here. We're obviously having 162 00:07:28,227 --> 00:07:31,387 Speaker 3: a good season this season, so we'll see what happens 163 00:07:31,387 --> 00:07:34,027 Speaker 3: in the future. But yeah, at some point, obviously I'd 164 00:07:34,067 --> 00:07:37,787 Speaker 3: love to go back overseason. Yeah, see how it goes 165 00:07:37,827 --> 00:07:38,147 Speaker 3: over there. 166 00:07:38,307 --> 00:07:39,987 Speaker 2: And I know you're only focusing on the A League 167 00:07:39,987 --> 00:07:42,027 Speaker 2: season at the moment, but the World Cup is now 168 00:07:42,267 --> 00:07:44,107 Speaker 2: just over a year away. Of course, you're part of 169 00:07:44,147 --> 00:07:47,987 Speaker 2: the squad that earned qualification last month for the World 170 00:07:48,067 --> 00:07:51,347 Speaker 2: Cup in North America next year. How driven a to 171 00:07:51,427 --> 00:07:53,507 Speaker 2: be part of your White squad for that? Yeah? 172 00:07:53,747 --> 00:07:56,747 Speaker 3: Very driven. These World Cups they don't come around too often. Obviously. 173 00:07:56,827 --> 00:07:59,587 Speaker 3: This is the New Zealand's third World Cup, so I 174 00:07:59,707 --> 00:08:01,867 Speaker 3: definitely want to be a part of it. And yeah, 175 00:08:01,907 --> 00:08:04,787 Speaker 3: obviously I want to make sure that I'm somewhere, I'm 176 00:08:04,787 --> 00:08:08,387 Speaker 3: playing regularly and performing well, so hopefully if that's Auckland 177 00:08:08,427 --> 00:08:11,667 Speaker 3: then that's great, and yeah, so I'm really looking forward 178 00:08:11,707 --> 00:08:12,707 Speaker 3: to the World Cup. 179 00:08:12,907 --> 00:08:15,427 Speaker 2: So five o'clock kickoff this afternoon. Most of the home 180 00:08:15,507 --> 00:08:18,587 Speaker 2: games have been five o'clock kickoffs. What is your match 181 00:08:18,667 --> 00:08:22,347 Speaker 2: day routine? What do you do on a day when 182 00:08:22,387 --> 00:08:23,387 Speaker 2: the game's at five o'clock? 183 00:08:24,547 --> 00:08:26,347 Speaker 3: Not too much to be honestly, I try to. I 184 00:08:26,547 --> 00:08:29,107 Speaker 3: like to be quite relaxed on game day, so obviously 185 00:08:29,227 --> 00:08:32,987 Speaker 3: like a bit of a sleeping, just chill, breakfast, might 186 00:08:33,067 --> 00:08:35,707 Speaker 3: go for a little walk. I live quite close to 187 00:08:35,827 --> 00:08:38,467 Speaker 3: the beach, very lucky, so we'd go for a little 188 00:08:38,467 --> 00:08:41,307 Speaker 3: walk on the beach for fifteen twenty minutes or so, 189 00:08:42,067 --> 00:08:43,907 Speaker 3: and then yeah, just be at home. I like to 190 00:08:43,947 --> 00:08:47,587 Speaker 3: be around your friends and family are my girlfriends, So yeah, 191 00:08:47,707 --> 00:08:50,467 Speaker 3: just try to be as chill as possible before the 192 00:08:50,507 --> 00:08:53,427 Speaker 3: storm before the game. So yeah, that's kind of what 193 00:08:53,587 --> 00:08:56,227 Speaker 3: my yeah, prematch routine looks like. 194 00:08:56,467 --> 00:08:58,827 Speaker 2: And just to finish this is just step one and 195 00:08:59,067 --> 00:09:01,107 Speaker 2: your goal to win both the Premiers Played and the 196 00:09:01,147 --> 00:09:04,267 Speaker 2: A League Championship in the first year for Auckland FC. 197 00:09:04,707 --> 00:09:07,267 Speaker 2: Those goals I'm sure have been talked about internally. Are 198 00:09:07,307 --> 00:09:10,467 Speaker 2: they starting to feel more real now as we really 199 00:09:10,907 --> 00:09:13,227 Speaker 2: reach the business end of the season, I think so. 200 00:09:13,467 --> 00:09:15,947 Speaker 3: I think yeah, the team and the players, coaching staff, 201 00:09:15,987 --> 00:09:17,947 Speaker 3: we all have the belief that we can obviously go 202 00:09:18,027 --> 00:09:21,627 Speaker 3: all the way when the minor premiership and the major premiership. 203 00:09:22,067 --> 00:09:23,987 Speaker 3: You know, obviously now we're just focused on Perth at 204 00:09:24,027 --> 00:09:25,787 Speaker 3: the moment and then we're going to be fully focused 205 00:09:25,827 --> 00:09:28,987 Speaker 3: on making sure all the players are in the best 206 00:09:29,347 --> 00:09:32,907 Speaker 3: or the best they can be going into the finals. 207 00:09:32,947 --> 00:09:34,307 Speaker 3: So yeah, definitely. 208 00:09:34,107 --> 00:09:37,667 Speaker 2: Definitely exciting time Snander, congratulations on first of all the 209 00:09:37,707 --> 00:09:40,467 Speaker 2: Premier's plate win. That's so on up and you'll look 210 00:09:40,507 --> 00:09:44,227 Speaker 2: forward to showing it off to the crowd at at 211 00:09:44,267 --> 00:09:46,627 Speaker 2: Go Media this afternoon. All the best for the rest 212 00:09:46,667 --> 00:09:48,027 Speaker 2: of the season as well, and thanks for taking the 213 00:09:48,067 --> 00:09:48,707 Speaker 2: time for a chat. 214 00:09:48,627 --> 00:09:50,267 Speaker 3: Mate, No worries. Thanks very much. 215 00:09:50,827 --> 00:09:54,027 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live 216 00:09:54,147 --> 00:09:57,427 Speaker 1: to News Talk zed B weekends from midday or follow 217 00:09:57,467 --> 00:09:59,027 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.