Weather ForecastFrom the outside, Eye Sports FC looks like one big family. The players are all very close on and off the pitch; with the major contributory factor in their togetherness being the manager Gino Agius. PST met up with Gino to discuss his views on the local game in Peterborough.
Raph: Hi Gino, you look well today! Do you have any nicknames that you can share with us?
Gino: Yes - Big G
Raph: Do you support a Premier/Football League club?
Gino: Yes, I am a fan of Liverpool FC
Raph: As your father hails from Gibraltar, are you a closet Spain fan when England aren't playing?
Gino: I am, but England is the main team that I follow and I am proud of it.
Raph: What has been your biggest achievement in local football?
Gino: My biggest achievement? It has to be winning the Peterborough league with Pearl, followed by getting Eye Sports back to the PDFL Premier Division (Gino took over Eye Sports when they were languishing in the bottom division).
Raph: Who is the best player, in your opinion, who you have managed?
Gino: I can never win with this reply! My heart will always say Danny Clifton; there is nothing that the boy couldn’t do. These types of players were a credit to Peterborough Prem’ football. Nowadays players with half of his ability are playing UCL football (reserves or bench-warming). I am of the opinion that players should learn their trade first.
Raph: I would have to agree with both of your points there Gino.
Raph: How did you feel when things went awry at Perkins and did you ever consider not returning to football?
Gino: Never, I just needed to step back and take a short break. Footballers are getting carried away with themselves these days. Players should want to play for a Club not ask about subs/bookings. Those so-called “big players” are the ones that I stay well clear of these days.
Raph: Did you think that it'd be hard to escape your father's shadow, within local football?
Gino: It has always been hard for me to live up to my dad, as he played semi-pro football and managed very successful teams, but we are different people.
Raph: Is there anyone in local football that you really don't like and don't mind saying so?
Gino: There are a few but it’s not my style to air my views online or behind their backs; I’m definitely a face-to-face person.
Raph: Do you think that it's important for a manager to have a "right-hand man" and if so, who is yours at Eye Sports?
Gino: Any manager will tell you that it’s “a must” and in my opinion Angus Hepburn is as good a man out there. Gus’s passion for the game is second to none. He’s a “hand-on-heart” man and I value him more than I can ever say (no tears please!)
Raph: How do you think that the PDFL could be improved?
Gino: How long do you have?!!! .... The link between the league and clubs is vital; I have a massive problem with fines. A phone call would help clubs so much and a little more common sense would not go amiss. No team out there deliberately misses a tick/mark/goal scorer and if they do, the league jumps on it. More help would really be welcomed.
Raph: What are your thoughts about players being paid to play in the PDFL?
Gino: I think that it’s a total joke if any player gets paid to play at this level and the PDFL should step-in and fine any club caught doing so. It goes back to me saying that lads should play for a club because they want to bring themselves or that club forward and not because of backhanders. This is local football not the UCL.
Raph: Would you let your players wear a snood?
Gino: I think that they’d look a right t**t, but it’s their choice.
Raph: Do you think that all PDFL cup finals should be played at Posh?
Gino: Yes 100%. To play at London Road football ground is a dream for a lot of local players.
Raph: Finally, how do you keep a club like Eye Sports running on budget, do you have to dip into your own pocket?
Gino: It’s hard, but we have a great committee/players that work together with sponsors to raise as much money as we can. I think that every club in these leagues have ragged the hell out of race nights. Never once have I put my own money in, we have and always will do it as a team.
Thanks to Gino for taking the time to speak with us at ww.PST-UK.co.uk
Stay tuned for forthcoming interviews with Kings Cliffe manager Alex Brown, the big character that is Tommy Flynn, local referees Artwell Mpofu and Nicolae Manolescu, plus many more of the colourful individuals that make our local game so colourful.
Discuss this and anything else that you feel passionately about in our discussion forum at www.PST-UK.co.uk/forum
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