PANTELIS KAFES INTERVIEW

"I believe we have done really well so far," stated the Veria midfielder Pantelis Kafes in his interview for the official website of the Super League and added: "we have to continue in the same way because we still have a long way to go." In reply to a question posed by a fan as to how he feels to be captain of the club in the city where he started his career as a footballer, he pointed out that: "I feel happy to be in Veria because this is the club of my hometown and I want to help the club achieve its goals." The full interview:

 

In the match against Atromitos Athinon, the moment you scored the goal you made a gesture to your teammates that it was like telling them "come on, let's even the match." Was this spontaneous or did you really believe you could make a comeback?

"I believed we could do it. The club played really well during the match and the result until that point was not fair.  Also, the will and desire shown by all my teammates, despite the negative result until that moment, had led me to believe that we could fight back."

 

You are on a four-no-defeat strike. Where is this due do you believe? Have you become a uniform squad?

"It is definitely a really positive thing that the team has a positive strike in results. This is due to our everyday work both on our physical level and the change of mentality in the club. The things we need is discipline, will, desire to fight, passion and, most important of all, to believe that the club is above everything. I believe we have done really well so far, but we have to continue in the same way because we still have a long way to go."

 

Question by Alexandros Blaras

Do you believe that your combined experience with Georgeas has contributed significantly to the successful course of the club so far?

"Nikos and I definitely have many top level experiences, but in all my years as a footballer I have realised that successes only come as a result of a good squad. No one can achieve things by themselves, thus we all try to incorporate our individual abilities in the unit as a whole. I believe the squad combines experience and enthusiasm successfully, the enthusiasm being provided by young players, something that all clubs need."

 

Question by Giorgos Zarkadas

How was the climate in the club and the city?

"Truth is that the climate was not very good during my first days in the club. We had 2 defeats and we were befuddled. Things have improved these past weeks following the positive results and I hope this will continue. As regards my teammates, they are all great men and give their soul for the club every day.

 

Question by Dimitris Doulopoulos

The main pillars of the squad are not young players. This gives us the experience advantage, but we lack in speed. Do you believe this will pose a problem during the second round of the championship and the club's goal for this season?

"As I said earlier, the squad has several experienced players and several young players that are enthusiastic and willing and I believe that if we continue fighting like this, we will probably achieve our goals."

 

Question by Panagiots Salonikidis, Kostas Vyzas

How does a player, who has played for top Greek clubs and in the Champions League and also was part of the Greek National Team that won the UEFA 2004 European Cup, feel to be the captain of the city club where he started his football career and that supported him all these years?

"In all my years as a footballer, I try to give my best in all the clubs I have played for. I do the same thing for Veria. I am of course proud of all the things I have achieved in my football career so far. "I have had good and bad moments and I feel happy to be in Veria because this is the club of my hometown and I want to help the club achieve its goals."

 

Question by Grigoris Deliopoulos

Not many fans come in the Veria Stadium, however there are some fans still chanting. Does this urge you to do more?

"We were definitely more fans in the stadium since the club returned to the 1st National Division after many years. Despite this, the fans that do come to the matches help us and give us strength. What we will try to do in our matches and with our results is to attract more fans, since in the last game in particular the atmosphere in the stadium was really nice from the first to the very last minute."

 

Question by Panagiotis Konstantakis

Given your great football career, which are the things a midfielder should have to distinguish himself, in your opinion?

"I believe that the characteristics are not relevant to a particular position. There are certain basic characteristics a player should have in order to distinguish himself and these are discipline, everyday hard work in training, will and a winning attitude. All these characteristics can bring renown to a player and help him achieve a top quality standard."