Name: Ben Bugeja
Team captained: Alcuin 3rds
How have your team’s performances been in autumn and spring term?
In the autumn term we took a lot of teams by surprise who were hoping for an easy game against us (not least Wentworth who we smashed 10-0) and performed very well. Second term teams wised up to how we play and we had a lot more draws but we had some decent results.
What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses?
Our main weakness as is the same with most Alcuin teams, strength and height, we have a few decent headers of the ball but that’s where we fall down the most. Our main strength is our team spirit, we are mostly the same team as last year and most of us are in the same year and degree so we have great morale. We have pace and skill up top, solid at the back, creative in the middle, with Dylan Chambers singing from the sideline or scoring the tap ins and the mighty Michael ‘The Cat’ Thurloway between the sticks, we will hopefully be a surprise to the bigger teams.
How strong is your cup squad?
We have the Cat in goal, doesn’t get stronger than that. We have a player who is internationally capped (albeit for two games against the Bahamas for Turks and Caicos Islands, FIFA ranking 207, yes that’s last). Dylan Chambers has scored 3 goals with a combined distance of 10m not many people can say that. But seriously we have a strong team for a 3rds team, we are missing a few players who have gone up to play 2nds but our core remains, and its solid.
Who would you call your ‘key player’ and why?
We don’t have a key player as such, we are very strong going forward, a mix of pace and creativity from everyone, we can all do a job but if I had to choose a player I will go for the Cat, but mainly because he is writing this article!
What are your thoughts on your team’s group draw? Which game are you most looking forward to?
The draw is good, as a thirds team you always like to play the big teams and we have a couple of very good sides in the group who will be strongly tipped to progress well in the tournament. That said there are a few teams we’d fancy our chances against, there are worse groups we could have had. The Goodricke 3rds game is probably the highlight based on the previous meeting between our teams, they’re a good side and it’s the last game so it could be decisive, let’s just hope they turn up to play football not boxing this time.
If you could beat any team in the final, who would it be and why?
Our main rivals are probably Goodricke 3rds as we have recent history but seeing as we have them in the group i would probably say the Alcuin 2nds team. There is a lot of banter between the two teams mainly due to the 3rds’ very impressive first term and the 2nds’ less impressive start. They have nicked a few of our players, so it would be good to finally settle the debate over which team is best.
What will you do to celebrate if you win the cup?
We’ve discussed this many times in the Courtyard watching the football and as most people will probably say, an open top bus would be nice, but it will probably have to be one of those tour things because hiring one ourselves will be bloody expensive and we are students after all. If that doesn’t happen, probably get wasted, watch Dylan wind people up and end the night getting kicked out of McDonalds, standard.
If you could change one thing about the college cup, what would it be?
It has to be playing it on the 3G, the no sliding rule does restrict the game, plus it’s the home of 3rds football so we’d have the home field advantage.
Who is your team ‘BNOC’ and why?
Has to be Dylan Chambers, you’d recognise his face if you saw him. He does a lot of different sports, mainly pub sports, makes a tit out of himself on nights out, starts food fights in McDonalds and then runs away leaving everyone else to blame. Other than that were all just a normal down to earth bunch.
Which team in world football are you most like?
It has to be Watford because we often play the 3 at the back counter attacking football, it’s an easy on the eye passing game. That and the fact that we don’t actually own any of our decent players! (And i can say that as I’m a Watford fan). We’re either Watford, or a slightly better version of Alcuin 2nds (P.S. Sorry Chris :p).
What are your expectations and ambitions for College Cup 2013?
As a 3rds team we have to be realistic and manage our expectations so college cup final at least.
Vision says:
Alcuin 3rds are in high spirits going into this year’s competition and will be looking to test themselves against the tough opposition they’ve been drawn with in Group 2. The final game against Goodricke 3rds is certain to be a grudge match. Before then, Alcuin will be hopeful of snatching a point against the 2nds teams of Vanbrugh and Derwent, but go into those contests as huge outsiders. While Plate qualification would be the dream, a place in the Vase is more realistic.