Reuben Gauci talks with birkirkarafc.com

by Ayrton Galea - 12th January 2012

In the first interview of 2012, we're going to talk with Reuben Gauci who joined our Club last week. In his first appearance he had a solid performance but was unlucky to conceded a last minute goal. With Reuben, we talked about his personal life, the situation of our Club, and other things.

Tell us something about yourself.

My friends say that I'm a very relaxed individual and I agree with them. I enjoy spending time with my close friends and travelling and exploring new places in the world. My most recent trip was in Tanzania last summer.

Tell us your typical day

During the week I usually wake up at around 7.30. I eat breakfast, pack my football bag and go to work. After work I go straight to training and then home. In the weekend I wake up later, but normally I have a game during the weekend, so I have to prepare myself for the game.

What are your main hobbies besides football?

I like music a lot, and I like to travel a lot even tough I m a bit restricted with football but when I have a bit of time I go for a holiday abroad.

Which is your favourite team abroad?

Inter are my favourite team. Even tough I prefer to watch English football as I find it more interesting.

Who were your football heroes when you were growing up? And who are your football heroes now?

Peter Schmeichel, Roberto Baggio and Zinedine Zidane were my favourite players. At the moment, Buffon, Javier Zanetti and Xavi are my favourites.

Who is your favourite goalkeeper? Why?

Gianluigi Buffon is my favourite cause he's really down to earth, a real clubman, and I think he's the goalkeeper that makes the least mistakes.

What made you become a goalkeeper?

When I went for my first training session with Mellieha nursery the coach put me in the goal, I played very good that day and I decided to become a goalkeeper.

How difficult is the position of a goalkeeper?

I think it s the most difficult position on the field. A goalkeeper has the most responsibility cause his mistake or save can lose or win a match and unfortunately the people remember more the mistakes than the saves.

Do you agree that goalkeepers are like wine? They become better with age?

Yes, absolutely. Even tough when you get older you will lose a bit the agility but you will be more experienced and surely your positioning will improve and that helps a lot.

What can you tell us about your previous adventures?

I was with Floriana when I started playing in the Premier League. I was one of the youngest and it was nice playing there because a lot of the players that I played with in the nursery, were also starting to be introduced to the Premier League and we were all very close friends.

Then I went with Marsaxlokk and there it was totally different because I went with a club that wanted success immediately and I admit, I found it a bit difficult to adapt to the team at first. After three seasons there I went for a season with Qormi which was also a good experience with a team that has just made it to the Premier.

Then I went to Luxol in the second division for one season and we got promoted and then back to Marsaxlokk last year which was my favourite season so far because we had a really great group.

What is the most important thing you have learned in your goalkeeping career?

That you have to train hard and be disciplined and that if you make a mistake during the game you have to forget it immediately, even tough it's not easy.

Which was the best save or moment in your career?

The best moment was when I won the league with Marsaxlokk.
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Which is you favourite all time match that you played?

There are a lot of important games but the one I like the most is with the under 21 National Team when we won 1-0 against Iceland. We scored in the last second of the match.

Who is the most dangerous striker that you played against?

I didn't like playing mostly against Michael Galea.

Several players have rituals or habits before matches. Do you have any?

I like to prepare for the match always the same way. I always eat the same thing and do the same things on match day.

Why did you decide to join our Club?

Because I think it's a very ambitious club and one of the biggest clubs in Malta so I couldn't refuse.

After just few days with our Club, how are you feeling?

I feel very good here and I think it's a very organised club.

How is your relationship with your new team mates? Who is your best team mate?

My relationship is very good. Most of them I knew them very well already. My favourite team mate is Shaun Bajada, who is also one of my biggest friends, from since we were very young.

Every coach has a different training schedule and unique character. How is your relationship with Mr. Paul Zammit?

It's my first experience under this coach but we have a good relationship.

What are your comments about the last match? Do you agree that we did not deserve to lose?

We were unlucky about the way the game ended. But I think considering we had a man more in the second half we should have done something more.

We played for a whole half with a player more. In your opinion, what is the main reason that we did not make the best out of the situation?

Sometimes a team that has 10 players automatically makes that extra effort, but I think we didn't t take advantage of our chances well enough.

In our opinion, you had a satisfactory debut but unfortunately we conceded a late goal. What were your feelings? Does this have an affect on your morale?

Well, it's always difficult to accept a defeat when you concede a goal in the last minute but that's football and you can't stay thinking about the last match. You have to think about the next.

What are your comments about the next match?

It's a very important game against a team that has nothing to lose, so I thing it's going to be a difficult match and we have to be, very prepared for it.

You are facing your former team, Marsaxlokk. Does this affect you in any way or it is just a normal game for you?

Well, I will be facing the players that till two weeks ago were my team mates but, obviously, once you're on the pitch all you have to focus on is that you have to win the match and try not to let any balls getting in!

Many mention that 'inferior' teams have a slight advantage in the Victor Tedesco Stadium. As a goalkeeper, does a smaller stadium affect you?

The Hamrun Stadium is quite small so every game there is going to be difficult. I think everyone prefers playing at the National Stadium or at the Hibernians Stadium.

Do you believe that we will beat Marsaxlokk?

I think that we have much more quality but it's important not to take anything for granted.

What are your targets with our Club in this five month spell?

My target is to have good performances as much as possible and that Birkirkara will go up in the table and participate in UEFA Competitions.

What are the most important things in your life?

Family and friends.

How important are the supporters for you and do you have a message for them?

The supporters are very important especially when things aren't going well, so my message is to keep supporting the team even when things are not so good.

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