One-on-one with CBC captain Evan Partridge

The Advertiser asked:

Describe the emotions of missing out on the ELFA Cup semi-finals…

Obviously great disappointment was felt when we missed out on the semis. We really wanted to have a good cup run, but it wasn’t meant to be.

Considering the team’s struggles this season, is this your hardest season from a captain’s perspective?

It has been a tough season and yes, we have struggled, but even with this being said, the season has still been good fun. There is nothing better than getting together with mates on a Saturday afternoon and enjoying the game together. We are a tight knit unit and there are always laughs and some good banter between the team members.

CBC Old Boys’ fortunes can be described as unlucky at times throughout the course of the season, how do you keep the guys motivated for the next match after a morale-sapping loss?

I suppose I am lucky in this regard. With all of us being good mates it makes this task a bit easier and it doesn’t take a lot to get the boys amped to play the next week. We all get disheartened and frustrated at times, which is just part of sport; if you didn’t get disheartened and frustrated as a sportsman after losing or a poor season you are not really a sportsman. We all have that competitive drive which keeps us going.

Where does the team need to improve to be more consistent?

After a season like this, I would probably ask what don’t we need to improve…Lol. But, on a serious note, there are many areas where we could improve. Two key points would be our fitness and consistency of the team selection. With us not training at all it makes things a bit more challenging in the fitness department, which leads to many injuries.

With the campaign heading for its end, what’s your overall impression of the season thus far?

Performance-wise it has been below par and not what we at CBC Old Boys are used to, but, as a whole, it has been an enjoyable season and I have no doubt next season we will come back stronger and hungry again.

Give us an inside viewpoint on how life is in the camp, being captain of CBC Old Boys?

Let’s just say it’s a lot of fun. As mentioned before, we are all mates in the team so we have a lot of laughs together and the banter between us is probably the best you will find in any team.

Describe Glenn Brierley as a coach…

Glenn ”The Hoof” Brierley is a good manager. He doesn’t say much on the field, but you can see when he isn’t happy with what is happening on the field. He brings a lot of ”gees” to the team, which is always welcome when things are not going your way on the field.

Moving slightly away from the on-field side of the game, how did your footballing career begin?

I started playing football at a very young age. I started when I was four and played for Benoni Northerns. I remained at Northerns until about Standard Seven (Grade Nine) and had to give up the game because of school sport commitments. During my younger days I made Eastern Transvaal on numerous occasions.

Which professional footballer do you look up to, and why?

This is a tough one, as there have been so many great players, but there are is one that stands out for me and that is Steven Gerrard. It might be because I am a Red and a little biased, but the way he carries himself and represents himself on and off the field is something to be admired. Not many players in this day and age are so committed to one club. He plays football because he loves the game and isn’t interested in chasing the money.

In the modern game, the criteria of choosing captains seems to have moved from picking a leader based on his pure leadership skills to picking a leader based on his on-field talents. (Players who are known for their talents rather than their leadership skills, like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar all skipper their nations) – what’s your take on this, does it make a difference who the captain is?

I think at that kind of level it does make a difference. You will need to pick a player who can influence the play and his team with just a moment of magic. Those types of actions can change your team’s attitude and that’s what you need on the field.

Still on the professional game – what’s your opinion on the Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate?

Personally, I think Lionel Messi is a far superior player to Ronaldo. Ronaldo is obviously pure class, but the way Messi goes about his business on the field and the way he carries himself is something to be desired. He gets on with the game and leaves the showboating to the lesser players.

For how long have you been a CBC player and captain?

I have been a CBC player now for about eight years and I’ve been captain of my side now for six of those years.

Which fixture/s do you relish the most on the ELFA calendar, and why?

It would have to be Boksburg and Bonaero. We have a pretty good relationship with both teams and we all know each other, so to get one over either team gives us great satisfaction. – @SabeloBoksburg

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