Josh Oluwayemi: Wellington Phoenix goalie ahead of the team's opening match

The Wellington Phoenix are gearing up for another football season.

The team begins their A-League campaign against Western United in the Capital at 4pm.

Goalie Josh Oluwayemi joined Piney to discuss.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalksb.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Clot They take on Western United at sky Stadium. They
would have, I'm sure, been watching Auckland FC start their
life yesterday with a two nil win over Brisbane Raw.
For the Phoenix, off the back of what was their
best ever season last time around, they'll be looking to
well at least match that and maybe even go one better.
They've got a few new players speaking of Auckland f C.

(00:32):
Alex Paulson, who was in goal for the Phoenix last
season is now an Auckland FC player, So the Phoenix
have got a new goalkeeper. He is English Nigerian. His
name is josh olaway Yemme and earlier this week I
sat down and had a jet Tom and asked him,
first of all, how the move to Wellington had come about.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
So to be fair, I've played with a few A
League players who have told me about the league and
they've told me nothing but great things about it, and
they're very proud about it as well, coming from that league.

Speaker 4 (01:03):
And first of.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
All was Cassini Yenge at Portsmouth who told me about it.
Then I ended up going to Finland then I had
two A League teammates.

Speaker 4 (01:14):
There is in Dylan Fox who was here before as well.

Speaker 3 (01:17):
I remember Fox, he will yeah, and he was telling
me a lot of good things about it, and funny enough,
he end up from there to hear and Yeah, Scout
came to me and asked me about the opportunity, and
because of what I've heard, I was like, do you
know what, I want to give this a shot, you know,
and yeah, that's why I ended up here.

Speaker 5 (01:38):
And you want to have had conversations I'm sure with
people at the club, chief and maybe Robin and others.
Was you know when you hear those conversations, was did
that reinforce you know, the feeling that this would be
the right move for you.

Speaker 4 (01:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:50):
A lot of it is how people are as well,
and I feel like they give an honest, vibe, honest,
honest people with in football. I love the way that
the clips that they sent me about the way the
team was playing that intrigued me as well. That made
me really excited to take it on. The facilities, research

(02:10):
into the facilities, and also the way the team did
last season as well. I felt like it was just
a very good challenge to come and continue that and
even build upon that for next season.

Speaker 4 (02:23):
That's what really brought me in.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
But as people as well, Chiefy and Reuben like they
sold me on the way they are and it's still
the same right now.

Speaker 6 (02:33):
You know, I was gonna last state.

Speaker 5 (02:34):
I mean, you're always in a job, and if you
were trying to treat you just like a first day,
doesn't it you know, like it come over, it's going
to be like this, is it what you expected?

Speaker 6 (02:42):
Has it been an easy transition for you to make?

Speaker 3 (02:44):
It is what I expected, But hasn't been an easy transition.
I've had two illnesses that have kept me out a
couple of weeks, but it's expected when you come from the.

Speaker 4 (02:53):
Other side of the world, you know. So it's good.

Speaker 3 (02:57):
But I'm getting up to base working really hard with
the coaches, and yeah, I'm very positive about how the
season is going to go.

Speaker 5 (03:04):
The frustrating get over here physically, but then you know what,
you just get a bad cold that sort of thing.

Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, just cold, just little viruses really, but it's you
can't stop it. If you stop it now, maybe it
comes later. So it's actually better now in pre season
than during the season.

Speaker 5 (03:23):
Have you found working with goalkeeping coach Ruben Parker.

Speaker 3 (03:26):
The way he sees football is extraordinary for me. Just
obviously I can't go into detail about the actual tactical stuff,
but he's just the way he sees it. Very demanding
as well, but very reasonable. He's got a very big
eye for detail as well, very big on those things,
you know, and helps me keep the intensity up as well.

Speaker 4 (03:51):
But yeah, not very good and I feel like you
could take me to the next level.

Speaker 5 (03:55):
A big part of modern day goalkeeping has been out
of play with your feet.

Speaker 6 (03:58):
You know.

Speaker 5 (03:59):
That hasn't always been the case, you know, a couple
of decades ago didn't have to worry about it. Now
it's a big part of a goalkeeper's toolbox.

Speaker 6 (04:06):
Is there something you work hard on?

Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, work hard on it every training sessions, even as
much with hands as well, and we always include both
in trainings. But the game has changed now so goalkeepers
along all the top five leagues, most teams are expectant
of their keeper to be able to be comfortable with

(04:29):
their feet and be flexible.

Speaker 4 (04:31):
Tactically, you know.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
So yeah, it's something that we work on tirelessly and
try and perfect it.

Speaker 5 (04:39):
And whether I wanted to give the technics to way.
Last year, the Phoenix played out a lot. They use
the keeper in the back for a lot to play out.
Are we likely to see that from you guys this year?

Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yeah, definitely likely to see that this year as well,
and even some more weapons as well that we plan
to launch as well. Obviously I can't go into detail
about these things, but I'm very excited, you know, very excited.

Speaker 5 (05:02):
What do you pride yourself on as a goalkeeper? Crosses,
shot stopping, controlling the penalty? What are your real strengths
as a keeper? I don't want to blow up when
I say, guys never liked talking about themselves, but what
would someone say about you?

Speaker 3 (05:16):
I think they would say in big moments for one
on one and things, that's something I really for have on.
I'm versatile, I can play out from the back. I've
been working tirelessly on elements of my game to get
certain things in the locker for myself. Shot stopping as well,
quick reactions in these things is something that I would

(05:37):
pride myself on.

Speaker 4 (05:38):
And athleticism as well. The leap that I possess.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
I feel with set pieces and hyeballs that have floated up,
I can really excel in that department, you know, but
I think it's more about being an all rounded keeper
and fitting in and what you can do for your
team in the way that they play.

Speaker 4 (05:58):
You know, how.

Speaker 6 (05:59):
Vocal are you as a goalkeeper.

Speaker 4 (06:01):
Very very, probably annoying, But you.

Speaker 6 (06:07):
Talk to any defense and that's what they want, right.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, that's what they want. Yeah, it's it's definitely what
they want.

Speaker 1 (06:14):
Well.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
I realized though on certain big occasions, I'm shouting and
the card here because the crowd is so loud, So
it's kind of I think a lot of it is
having a relationship and how well we're drilled as well
as a team and making sure that in certain moments
you're just in unison with your defenders.

Speaker 4 (06:35):
That's the most important.

Speaker 6 (06:36):
Yeah, this seems like a really important relationship.

Speaker 5 (06:38):
You know, you look at midfield peers and striking peers,
but the relationship between yourself and your back four or
whatever it might be, back for your defensive line. How
do you solidify those relationships and make sure that they're cohesive,
especially with it, you know, coming.

Speaker 6 (06:50):
To a new club.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
A lot of it is with games that there's certain
partnerships that you would know intuitively what people are going
to do within game scenarios, but a lot of it
can be built in training and through conversation, you know,
and that's what can kind of bolstered the connection. When
someone goes over here, you know what he's going to do,
you know what he likes and what he doesn't like.

Speaker 4 (07:13):
It's all part of the game.

Speaker 6 (07:15):
You know, you were at Tottenham for a while, big club.

Speaker 5 (07:18):
What was it like?

Speaker 3 (07:20):
It was very, very demanding, very it was very educational.
I learned a lot of things that now in my
career when I look at it, I can always refer back,
even though at the time I've registered it, but I
can't really relate it to anything. A lot of you

(07:40):
could learn a lot from the players, the coaches, a
lot of pedigree there as well. You know, a lot
of very good staffs and people with crazy experience, like
for example, working with Patch Ennens. You know, having him
by your side for training, you learn a lot and
he tells you a lot about his day and things,

(08:02):
and he like you could just take that. You don't
feel alone, you feel like you're not You don't feel
like you're learning every experience on the cuff.

Speaker 4 (08:11):
You feel like you can relate it back to something and.

Speaker 6 (08:14):
You head time with the Nigerian national team as well.

Speaker 5 (08:17):
You played age group for England, but the Nigerian national
team I think two or three years ago. Do you
have strong international ambitions?

Speaker 4 (08:23):
Yeah? I really.

Speaker 3 (08:26):
My upbringing, my family Although I'm a diaspora in Nigerian
is in. I've lived in England all my life, but
the culture in the area and in my family is
very strongly Nigerian. So for me, when I went to
play against went to as a team to go and
play against Mexico, it was it was something like words

(08:51):
can't describe like it makes it. It brings back the
kidding you about why you're in football, you know, and
I do want to go back and not be on
the bench but play. You know, that's still a chapter
that is unturned and that I'm going to keep working
to to try and get there.

Speaker 5 (09:08):
And just to circle back to Wellington to finish out.
What does a successful season look like for you personally
and for this team?

Speaker 3 (09:15):
For me personally, I think the personal stuff will follow
if I just keep doing focusing on every game at
a time and enjoying the club, the atmosphere and what
I need to do. My job as a team, I
really want silverware in some sort, whether it's in the

(09:35):
league or postseason. You know, I really want silverware in
that aspect. In terms of number, I try not to
get caught up in the numbers, but there is a
general rule of fun where I'd like to hit.

Speaker 4 (09:49):
And as an individually, you know.

Speaker 6 (09:52):
There is Josh all Away in me.

Speaker 2 (09:54):
He is the new number one for Wellington Phoenix, the
team actually for this afternoon's game. He has been released
and he is starving, so he'll debut for Wellington Phoenix
this afternoon in their A League season opener again Twisting
United at four o'clock this afternoon.

Speaker 1 (10:09):
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