Courtesy: Matt Fejos's blog

Interview with Clayton Lewis

On Friday, a historic first national college championship ended four years of hard work and heart ache for St Patrick’s College Futsal. This was a monumental achievement given the relatively small roll of the school – about 700. The fact that seven of the 12 players were just year 11 (15yo) and at school for another two years, puts things into perspective and inspires big dreams for the future.

Belief had to be a big focus if the team had any chance of progressing through the tournament. A key component to inspiring this belief came in the leadership from captain Clayton Lewis.

He had enough on his plate - back on the field two days later scoring a goal for Olympic FC winning the preseason tournament in Wellington. In the last nine months he has also been to an U17 Fifa World Cup, been involved with Team Wellington in the NZ National League, and is a youth player at NZ’s only professional club – Wellington Phoenix FC.

Below is my interview of a young man with huge passion and who plays with an intensity and desire rarely seen in kids his age – he just turned 17. We discuss his involvement in the sport of futsal and what it means to him to captain the team in his final year. The insights reveal a depth and compassion to one of the most promising young footballers in New Zealand at the moment.

MF: When and how did you first get involved in Futsal?

CL: I first got into futsal back in 2011 when a few of my mates told me that I would be pretty decent to fill in for their social team on a Wednesday night. So I took it up and I became very attached to it, and when I got approached to play for the school top team in 2012 I was very interested but I knew that football is what I wanted so I only really focused on the main events such as regionals and nationals.

MF: What would your advice be to promising young footballer in their early teens?

CL: First bit of advice I’d give to young players in their teens is to try different things. I had my football working perfectly fine playing for Olympic and playing for the school, but futsal is a game that can help in so many different areas that are key elements to have in football. I feel over the last couple of tournaments, I have improved in some areas I wouldn’t have if I had just stayed with football. And secondly, futsal is a fast paced game that will get you fit very quickly while having fun with your mates

MF: How has the game developed here in Wellington in the time since?

CL: The game has changed so much over the three years I’ve been playing, from the number of young kids wanting to play and the standard of competition has risen as more and more players start to play.

MF: How has it helped develop your football – technically? tactically?

CL: Learning all the tactical and technical side of futsal, it has improved me in my defensive side of my game but also just keeping the ball moving as it helps to keep your team in possession and also it has helped my controlling of the ball. Mainly for me was to work on my fitness, and futsal is such a good game that still involves a football but a lot of running while your having fun.

MF: You have had a huge twelve months in football – scoring winners in the Chatham Cup for Olympic, Fifa U17 Football World Cup in Dubai and being involved with Team Wellington in the National League and training with professional club the Wellington Phoenix. Why did it mean so much to come back and play futsal for St Pats Town?

CL: Yeah the last 12 months have been crucial in my life because not only have I progressed as a footballer by being in the u17s and Team Wellington, the goal for Olympic really got me going when I had an email from the Phoenix asking if I wanted to do their FSE (football school of excellence). Throughout this year I’ve been part time back and forth from training to school, and since I’m the first person to do that, and not only that, but the belief and respect that everyone at St Pats has in me to do well, I felt like I needed to give them something back to show my appreciation. I wanted to do something that everyone can be involved with, I guarantee we would not have won the national title if it wasn’t for the support we it over those two days.

MF: What were some of the reactions from people in football? How did you justify it?

CL: Most people didn’t want me to do futsal cause it would take my mind of football and maybe slow me down in my progress, but I chose to do it because not only was it to benefit me in some areas but it was because I wanted to do it for the school, and for the other boys to show that we can do well if we work hard and put our minds to it.

MF: SPC Futsal Old Boy Birhanu Taye sent a message of support for the boys from Portugal. How was this received by the team?

CL: Birhanu had a big impact on our team I think, because when we received the message everyone took the time to read it thoroughly, and just think that he was where we are now only two years ago, and now he is playing for one of the biggest clubs in Portugal, it gave us that little bit more motivation and determination to go out and do it for him as well.

MF: To get out of the pool was an achievement in itself, beating last years champions, and getting results against the teams that kicked St Pats out in the past two years. Let alone winners with 30 secs to go and conceding an equaliser with less than 60 seconds to go in the final. What was it in this team that had such calmness and spirit to get through such tense and tough times in so many games?

CL: I think the fact that we had come so far to reach the final, and when we conceded that goal it went to extra time, I said to the boys that “we have come too far to lose now, look at all our support on the side, let’s do it for them.” To show this much composure and intelligence from such a young team was incredible. I was so proud of my boys!

MF: How was that culture created?

CL: I think the fact that most of us are friends outside of futsal, everyone knew they had to do their part to stick up for their mate and we would then get the reward, which in the end we did.

MF: One of the team aims was to ‘beat history’. After your achievements this week (getting out of the quarters was the furthest St Pats previously attained), what history and legacy do you think you have left with the school? And more specifically, this young team?

CL: Well, from the start of the tournament our aim was to beat history, and the boys had put in all the hard work with early morning training. I knew from then on that we could make this dream a reality. Being St Pats first ever senior futsal championship, I think that this shows that we should be taken more seriously, as I feel we haven’t been over the years. Hopefully next year, when I’m watching from the side line they have just as much if not more support to hopefully push for another title. All the boys have bright futures in either futsal or football so I just urge them to keep putting in the hard work, and I know that they will get there good luck fellas.

MF: Thanks Clayton and congratulations on an emotional week, all the best for your future. Its been a pleasure working with you and I St Pats is backing you. Sectare Fidem.







Posted by Mico Martic --> mico.martic@futsalplanet.com