Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Jason Culina Culina on his fantasy move to Ajax Amsterdam… Diegos: "Most Aussies associate Holland with tulips, clogs, dykes and funny smelling tobacco but, to the soccer enthusiast, the Netherlands is home to Ajax Amsterdam, one of the most decorated soccer teams in the world and a club that you now call home. Most Aussie youngsters only dream about such a move. Have you come down to earth yet?" Culina: " One of my dreams when I was a young player was to play for Ajax one day. It's hard to believe that I'm actually now living my dream. Initially, I spent the first several months becoming familiar with the country and adjusting to the fact that all the Ajax big name players, who I used to watch on TV, were now my colleagues. Now, seven months later, it all seems normal to me." Diegos: "You endured a lot of uncertainty over your transfer overseas with the original planned move to Bronby stymied by the non attendance to a medical check up during the World Youth Cup in Nigeria. But you went from chocolates to boiled lollies to after dinner mints when Ajax finally came in for you. It must have been a frustrating time?" Culina: "It was very frustrating at the start. My dream was to play overseas and so I wanted to take anything that became available. In the end, it worked out for the best. I'm happy where I am. There were a couple of clubs I could have gone to before Ajax and, as it turned out, I couldn't be happier with this club." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000 Culina on the Ajax fans…. Diegos: "Can you tell us what the Ajax fans are like?" Culina: "The fans don't know me yet. I first need to prove myself to the crowd if I expect them to support me. The Ajax fans treat the more experienced players very well. At the moment, Ajax is not doing too well in the league. They have a few problems and are looking to replace the coach. The fans are very demanding, as all fans in Europe are. We usually have an average turnout of approximately 45,000 to 50,000 fanatical fans a game." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000
Diegos: "Your father, Sydney Olympic coach, Branco Culina, has said that he is so proud of what you have achieved that he feels like packing up, leaving Australia and coming over to support you in your quest for international stardom. What are the support structures like at `Ajax for young recruits like yourself and how do you feel about dad coming over to hang out with you and your Dutch mates at movies, discos, etc?" Culina: "First of all, the support offered by Ajax has been terrific. Young players are treated very well here. When I first arrived, I was told that I could be accommodated with a guest family but I declined the offer as I am here living with my girlfriend, but the support was certainly appreciated. My dad, as you know, has offered much support as well. It is good of him to offer to come over but everything is going so well here and, at this stage, he doesn't really need to make the trip." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000
Diegos: "Foreigners, when talking about Amsterdam, rave about the funny tasting cookies, the welcoming nightlife and the famed football academy at Ajax. What is the set up like at the club and what aspects of their program can be introduced into the Australian system of youth development?" Culina: "All of it. It is brilliant here. When I first arrived, I was amazed with the stadium. They also have junior facilities that include their own stadium as well as 15 change rooms for each junior team; each junior team also has a pool of their own, a spa, and synthetic grass fields. The first team facilities are just unbelievable. Yesterday, we had a training session that included a spa and sauna. I didn't know we had those things until yesterday. Differences in training are huge. We engage in activity that is much more technical than in Australia. There are a number of training strategies that I have been introduced to here which I have never seen before. Ajax is famous for their videos that illustrate these training techniques. My dad has viewed a few and he plans to introduce some of them to his own team preparation at Olympic." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000 Cooking with Culina…. Diegos: "In the tradition of great soccer feuds such as Romario and Edmundo; Stan Collymore and John Gregory; Paul Gascoigne and Glen Hoddle, you and Ajax's other Aussie recruit, Joe Didulica seem to be living out your own spiteful feud at present. Apparently, it's not over a girl or family but over who is the better cook. Set the record straight, who is the better cook?" Culina: "He claims he is but, at training today, we came up with a solution. I told Joe that I would be diplomatic and tell you Diegos that he was the better cook. He did the same for me during one of his interviews, so I thought it would be the least I could do for him." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000 |