Delvin N'Dinga Interview

"As a club, we want to win both the Championship and the Greek Cup and qualify at least for the Champions League phase of 16," pointed out Delvin N'Dinga in his exclusive interview for the website of the Super League. The Olympiacos midfielder then talked about the successive matches both in Greek and Europe:  "If the team wants to succeed, we have to make sacrifices and among those is to play many successive matches and respond to the hard conditions arising from continuous matches," and sent his own message to the fans and supporters of the club: "We want to be always by our side, just as they do in every match. They are strength and our support. I thank them for their immense love!" and stated that apart from football: "I particularly enjoy motor sports. Formula 1 and Moto GP." The full interview:

 

Question by Georgia Peritsis

What is your personal goal and what is your goal as a team?

I personally want to play more often. I want to have more participations in Olympiacos and further improve my personal level. Above all, I want to help the club to win titles and progress in the Champions League. These are the targets of my team, so it is very important that they align with my personal ones. As a club, we want to win both the Championship and the Greek Cup and qualify at least for the Champions League phase of 16. These are my targets as well.

 

Question by Martha Koukos

Do you believe that if Olympiacos is qualified in the Champions League phase of 16, it could be able to deal on equal terms with its opponents?

We have already seen Olympiacos play well against major clubs. We can play well regardless of who the opponent is. However, we are not playing alone. We always have the opponent on the other side, who could be on an even better day than us. The important thing for us is to first do whatever can to qualify for the phase of 16 and thereafter see who our opponent will be and how to deal with it. It will be good both for us and the club to play against a major opponent. We will gain experience and will be able to prove our worth.

 

Next match, you are playing home against PAOK. What is your prediction about this particular match and what will decide the match, in your opinion?

I believe it will be a good match. PAOK is a good team. They are a team also playing in Europe, as we do. We have high quality and when playing against PAOK, we would like to play an excellent game. I think it will be an interesting duel and I believe that we are going to make our fans happy and they will enjoy the match. As concerns what will decide the match, when a match is so important, all three outcomes are possible.  The devil is in the details.

 

Question by Giorgos Kallis

Is the team fatigued following the continued matches in the Super League and the Champions League?

We are indeed tired. Nonetheless, we try and succeed, in maintaining our energy at high levels despite the series of successive matches. This is not an excuse. If the team wants to succeed, we have to make sacrifices and among those is to play many successive matches and respond to the hard conditions arising from continuous matches. We must remain focused and in good condition, bringing the match against PAOK to a positive result, before the Championship break for the national teams.

 

Question by Mihalis Varkakos

Do you think that G. Karaiskakis stadium is one of the most difficult homes in Europe?

I have seen many stadia, some are difficult and the one of Olympiacos is among them. It is a difficult home with great fans!

 

Question by Yannis Katramados

What is the name of the first academy you played in and what do you remember from that period?

The first academy in which I played in Europe was that of Auxerre. And the academy in which I played back home was the Congo National Football Centre (CNFF).

 

Did you always believe that you would play professional football or is it something that came along the course of events?

Football was initially for me a game I played with my friends. I did not see it otherwise when I started. That's how it was for me. I slowly began to work differently and envision the development this would require from me. The result was to move on and become a professional footballer.

 

What would you like to say to the fans and supporters of Olympiacos?

The message is simple: We want to be always by our side, just as they do in every match. They are strength and our support and both I and my teammates become better when they are supporting us. We can all together achieve great things and we need their full energy in the pitch! I thank them for their immense love!

 

What other sports are you following except football and why?

I particularly enjoy motor sports. Formula 1 and Moto GP. They are intense and require great skill and focus in order to be able to drive in this pace. They are fantastic!

 

What are your impressions from living in Greece?

They are excellent. Greece is a beautiful country which is facing a difficult situation. I wish things turn out for the best for everyone, concerning the crisis. It is unfair to the people and Greeks are very warm, hospitable and friendly people. I love Greece very much!