Josh Oluwayemi: Wellington Pheonix Goalkeeper discusses personal changes ahead of next season

Wellington Phoenix Goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi joined Jason Pine to talk about the team's - and his own -  preparation for the season.

Wellington suffered a difficult season last year, finishing 10th on the table. Oluwayemi outlines what changes he's making to his game, and how the team's staying motivated after last season.

"It's just about recognising the moments to play out from the back and recognising the moments to go long."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk there'd be.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get you inside the Wellington Phoenix camp ahead of
the season up in the night against Berth Glory. Goalkeeper
Josh Olawaimi is with us. Josh, thanks for chatting mate.
How ready does the team feel for the new campaign.

Speaker 3 (00:24):
The team's in a really good place. We've had a
strong preseason. Everybody's sharp and there's a good energy around
the group. So we're focused for the season and thankfully
it's been we've had a lot of fixtures, so it
should should help us in the season.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
As you prepare for the season ahead, have you talked
much about last season or has that kind of been
left in the rearview mirror.

Speaker 3 (00:48):
One hundred Early on in preseason, we've spoken about last
season and we've reflected on it and learned from it
and now at this point the season's about to start,
so we're looking to move forward in the rest.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
How do you reflect personally on what was your first
season in the A League?

Speaker 3 (01:07):
For me, it was a great experience. You know, it's
all part of the journey. You're learning new things as
you go along, you know, It's been a season of
growth and learning for me personally, you know, adapting to
the travel, to the to the different style of the
league as well has been very good for my development
as well. So now going into this season, I just

(01:29):
learned from learned from the things of last season.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Do you sort of feel bitter equipped after a season
this I guess there'll be fewer surprise as you're you know,
you will have been to all of these grounds before,
played all of these teams before, albeit some of them
have changed personnel. Do you feel as though you're bitter
equipped the second time around?

Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, definitely, you know, you know what to expect sort
of thing. Although different seasons bring different challenges, you know,
no seasons the exact same, but it definitely it definitely
plays at a part, huge part in the in the
familiarity with how the league does. So.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
Yeah, so, Chief Egian Calotliana, your head coach, has signaled
a change of formation this year, has been very open
about it. You're going to play a back three. How
does that change things for you, Josh? From a goalkeeper's
point of view, having a having a back three in
front of you rather than a back four in front.

Speaker 3 (02:22):
Of you, Yeah, it changes a few things. You know,
you have to adapt a bat three, like the angles
and the supporting angles that you would give to your
center backs, the way you communicate as well, you know,
some tactical changes, the things that it helps, and there
are things that you have to stay a bit more
alert for, you know, in a back three. So it

(02:43):
doesn't do too much, but it changes a little bit.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
And I presume also it'll be from what I've heard,
it'll be quite a high line that you play. So
are you being asked to play it from the back
as regularly as you did last season, but also be
a bit of a sweeper keeper on occasion?

Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, definitely, Especially in this modern game. It's hard for
a lot of keepers to be able to do those things.
You know. It's just about recognizing the moments to play
out from the back and recognizing the moments to go along,
you know. So that's what we plan to do this season,
Just play the right moment in the in the game
and produce the right result.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
How important is it to start well to you know,
to get a win or two on the board nice
and early in the season.

Speaker 3 (03:32):
A strong start is really important. It builds momentum, builds belief,
it sets the stands early. Every point matters in the league,
so we want to come out focused and organize and
ready to perform from day one. But at the same time,
it's a very long season. So if we're doing great,
we have to keep it going. If we're not, then
we have to build upon that.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
And I know you're only going one game at a
time and tonight's game against Perth Glory is your immediate focus.
But how motivated is the team to have some success
in the derby's against Aukland FC this season?

Speaker 3 (04:06):
Extremely those games and locked us and the fans, you know,
so we plan to bring back pride and make a
statement for women.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
And something I noticed about you last season, Josh, after games,
it didn't matter win, loss, draw, whether things had gone well,
whether things hadn't gone well, you always took the time
after the game to make the fans, to sign some autographs,
to get a selfie. It would have been easy for
you to not do that after a loss, for example,

(04:36):
go down the tunnel and just get out of there.
What is it that motivates you to make sure that
you still connect with the fans, regardless.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
The fans make the game to be honest, without the
fans we're seen in COVID, you know, it brings the
atmosphere out. If we don't have the fans, the fans
make the game, you know. And I feel like as players,
we owe it to every single fan, you know, to
keep us standards fair and to be model professionals, and

(05:05):
also to connected with them because we we grew up
and are fans and wants worse fans as well, you know.
So that's just the way I am and the way
I see things.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
The other thing about playing the A League is the long,
the long off season. It spent about five months since
you're last playing the game. You must be looking forward
actual getting out there and playing a proper game, are
you ah?

Speaker 3 (05:26):
I'm itching. I'm itching. This is the longest preseason I've
ever had in my life.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, it is all over. It is all over. The
new season is finally here, Josh. Thanks for taking the
time for it yet to us made all the best
in game one tonight. Look forward to catching up throughout
the season.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Thank you, paying It's a pleasure to be here now.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
It's good to have you on the show, Josh. Thanks
and day Josh Holloway me goalkeeper for the Phoenix eleven
forty five tonight against Perth Glory.

Speaker 1 (05:48):
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