Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Nick Rizzo

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Nick Rizzo

Rizzo on leaving the legendary Liverpool football club for Crystal Palace…yes that’s right Crystal Palace…

Diegos: "It seemed that big things were in store for you at Liverpool.  Not only did the Diegos regard you as the next Steve McManaman but we became convinced that you employed the same hairdresser. 

Wearing the blood red of the famous Liverpool club is every young Aussie's dream.  In hindsight do you regret leaving the club?"

Rizzo:   " Not really. I made the decision a long while ago to leave. At the time, Terry Venables had gone to Crystal Palace and I thought, he is a great coach, I think I'll go there.

The chairman of the club also promised me a lot so at the time I thought it was the right decision. I can't really say that I regret leaving Liverpool because I don't want to look in the past. If I was there I could be still playing in the reserves and not getting a chance. So no, I'm not regretting it." 

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

 Diegos: "You've endured a tumultuous season with Crystal Palace since your transfer from Liverpool. 

Terry Venables the manager who enticed you to the Club has acrimoniously left, the club is in financial strife and on the eve of the World Youth Cup, you suffered a serious knee injury that has put you out of the tournament. 

Are you now regretting the fact that you walk under ladders and kick black cats or are you trying to look on the bright side?"

Rizzo: "I think I've got to look on the bright side. You can't look back and think what could've been. I can't dwell on the past because there's nothing much l can do about it, so my immediate aim is to just to keep going."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on Palace going broke…

 Diegos: "The news this week is that your club, Crystal Palace is in the hands of an administrator. 

Is that worrisome for you and have you been engulfed by the sudden urge to fly back to the club and collect valuables from your club locker, before the receivers sell them?"

Rizzo: "To tell you the truth I'm not sure what's happening. I haven't been able to get a hold of the chairman. As you can imagine he'd be pretty busy right now.

I've heard that an administrator has been installed so the club may well be going into liquidation. I feel I've got to try and get in contact with someone so that I can find out what the hell is going on."

Diegos: " So you haven't had to resort to washing your own jock straps?"

Rizzo:   " No not yet. I don't think that it’s got that bad."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on Venables…

Diegos: "Former Socceroo coach, Terry Venables was seen as the man who was going to lead Crystal Palace to greatness and a spot in the English Premier League. 

What is your opinion of him as a coach and in a quiet moment with him, did he ever mention the tragedy of November 29^th 1997 to you?"

Rizzo: "No he never really talked about that. As a coach I regard him highly. He didn't have much success with Crystal Palace but I worked under him for six months and he helped me a great deal.

He would pull me aside and explain exactly what I had to do and what I was doing wrong. He did a lot for me and even though he didn't have great success, I still regard him as a great manager."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on Crystal Palace the new home of Aussie backpackers…

 Diegos: "Under Venables, Palace almost became a home away from home for Aussie soccer players.  At one stage it seemed that the club was going to change its name to 'Crystal Palace Aussie Backpackers and Hitchhikers Downunder'. 

Other than a VB can floating in the Gatorade bucket and 'Cold Chisel' blaring in the player's meditation sessions, what other evidence is there that the club is infested with Aussies?"

Rizzo: "There are a couple more players in the youth team and the Crystal Palace chairman owns a big slice of the Northern Spirit. I suppose that's a bit more evidence. It seems that he likes everything Australian. One correction though - unfortunately there are no VB cans floating in the Gatorade."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on missing the World Youth Championships in Nigeria in 1999…

Diegos: "A knee injury has tragically robbed you of a chance of wearing the Green and Gold in April in the World Youth Cup in Nigeria.  Although there is a big chance that the boys will be mugged, contract yellow fever, malaria and be kidnapped by hostile rebel dissidents, I'm sure you'd like to be there. 

How disappointed are you that you aren't playing?"

Rizzo: " Extremely disappointed. When l did the injury the possibility of missing the championships was the first thing l thought about.

I've played 21 games this season and performed well but it was the World Youth Cup that I was really looking forward to, playing for Australia and meeting up with the boys again. Unfortunately I got this knee injury and it's put me out."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on Country versus Country disputes…

Diegos: "It is well documented that Leeds United in England are applying pressure to young Aussies to turn their backs on playing for Australia. 

Our personal heavies, Guido and Carmine Diego would like to know whether anyone has ever put that sort of pressure on you and if so, we want to know where they live?"

Rizzo: "No, no one has ever put pressure on me to choose, so you can tell Guido and Carmine to relax. I guess everyone makes their own decisions. I don't think you can be forced to do anything you don't want to do.

I think deep down Jamie Mc Master wanted to play for England. If that's his decision well, we have to accept that. What else can you do?"

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999

Rizzo on the English medicos…

Diegos: "Our resident sports physiotherapist, Dr. Groin, tells us that the English are a little behind the Aussies when it comes to the treatment of sports injuries. 

Was it the lobotomy your English club doctor was attempting to give you when treating your bad knee, that compelled you to return home and seek Aussie medical advice?"

Rizzo: " I had a scan and the English doctors said that l didn't need an operation, so l asked permission to come home. When l got back home l went to see a specialist. He looked at me and asked 'What the hell is that?' l was told that the English doctors had given me the wrong knee brace. Apparently it was the brace that you wear when you come back to play.

So my Aussie specialist replaced the brace with the correct one and instead of being out for three months as originally estimated, I've been told that I'll be only out for two months, which makes me feel a lot better."

Soft Sombrero Moment 1999