Five minutes with TuksFootball goalkeeper Dylan Paterson

by PDBY Staff | Sep 18, 2017 | Sports

 

What did you feel has been different about the start of this year’s Varsity Football campaign? What do you think could have been done better?

Well, this year’s national championships were a lot closer to Varsity Football, so we had spent a few months preparing for that tournament and once it was done, we had to almost go straight into Varsity Football. We were all fully prepared but just didn’t take our chances, I think that’s just the way football is. I believe now that everyone can see that the tide is turning and we are starting to take those chances now and win games.

 

Congratulations on making the USSA team and representing your country at this year’s World Student Games in Taipei. What do you feel you learned from that experience?

The feeling of being at that tournament was indescribable. The amount that I learnt in that short period is difficult to explain. Getting the opportunity to work with different coaches and teammates was an experience I will keep with me for the rest of my life.

 

With this being your last year of eligibility to play Varsity Football, (Players may not be older than 25) how would you summarise the journey you have been on since joining the team?

I was part of the inaugural tournament winning squad when we won the 2013Varsity Football Cup. However, I only made my debut in the semi-final of 2014 against NWU Mafikeng. Coming into that game, I remember 12 000 fans packed into the Mafikeng Stadium. The game had gone to penalties, and I managed to make the winning save, definitely an indescribable start to my career at Tuks. I have found that Tuks have always had that mentality of wanting to win things and I am grateful to have been a part of that.

 

Now that your journey with TuksFootball is coming to an end, what are your plans for the future?

Right now I just want to see out the remainder of my degree, right now I am in the final year of my LLB. With regard to football, I intend to continue playing and will try to make it big somewhere else. I like to believe that you make your future. At the moment, I am currently working to get my British passport, so I can head over to Britain for trials at a few clubs I have lined up and hopefully make a name for myself on that side of the world.

 

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