January - April 2009 Edition
Interview with England's Football International Jermaine Defoe
 
Interview with Jermaine Defoe.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jermaine Defoe
This too shall pass - Yolanda Adams.
 
 
 
TOSH Mag: Welcome to our studio Jermaine. We have been trying to get you over for a long time. Thanks for finally honouring our invitation.
JD: Sorry guys. That is the life of a footballer. Schedules are very very tight. Nevertheless, I'm glad to be here.
 
TOSH Mag: We totally understand. Once again thank you for honouring our invitation. Let me ask some questions about the lows of your career. Some of our fans sent us emails and the first one here is from Richard Demola in Nigeria. His question reads thus - 'How did you cope back in 2005/06 when you were named on the 5-man standby list' for the World cup.

I think Richard was referring back to 2006 when you  were not named in the provisional England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
JD: Wow, that was a pretty difficult time for me. I thought personally that I was good enough to be in the main squad and if not, at least - the provisional squad. The Manager had other ideas and I respected that but it was difficult for me to take. Thankfully I had family and friends around me encouraging me all along but it was hard for me as I really wanted to play for my country.

Thankfully, I joined the England squad in Germany (only for training). I was so joyous and up for it. Then Rooney (Wayne Rooney) was cleared to play after suffering a foot injury and I had to return to England. I was happy for him but was sorrowful for myself. It was one of the lowest points of my career!
 
TOSH Mag: I must admit I was clamouring for your inclusion especially after Walcott was chosen ahead of you. You were part of the squad in qualifying for the tournament and you had previously scored some goals inspite not starting most games and Walcott was in-experienced. Even after Michael Owen was injured, Walcott was not fielded by Ericsson!
 
JD: I'm just glad that it is all over now. I did receive a lot of support from my team mates and fans likewise. I would not want to go through that again. Though I must admit that the whole experience made me stronger.
TOSH Mag: I agree with you as it shows in your character even now. Another horrid time for you was when West Ham was relegated and you asked for a transfer 24 hours later. A lot of people and the West Ham fans gave you a lot of stick for that.
 
JD: That was another horrid time for me. The season was a great one for me personally but a terrible one for the club. I scored 11 goals in 42 league and cup appearances but it was not enough preventing us going down.
TOSH Mag: Was that the 2002 - 2003 season under Glenn Roeder?
 
JD: Yes it was. 
TOSH Mag: Actually in the previous season, you were the club's highest scorer - weren't you? That was when West Ham finished 7th or 8th?
 
JD: You do have a photographic memory - I must say. West ham did finish 7th that season and Yes I was the highest scorer in the club.
TOSH Mag: Maybe because I'm a big fan of yours. I remember clearly that you scored
14 goals in 39 cup appearances and premiership games.
 
JD: Exactly precise.
TOSH Mag: You were previously sharing with us the horrid time you had when you handed in your transfer request.
JD: I was hoping you would forget all about that! Just joking. The timing of the request was the whole issue. I think the shock of playing in the Championship got to me and I totally panicked. Barely a day after we were relegated, I submitted a written transfer request and I got slayed by the manager, my team mates and the fans. Though I did apologise to the supporters and my team mates, I don't think they forgave me. Again it is in the past now and I definately learnt from it.
 
TOSH Mag: Thank you very much for sharing your views on these heart-felt issues.
JD: You are most welcome.
TOSH Mag: Couple more questions. Do you remember the moment you offered your sympathy for Charlton after your two goals condemned them to relegation to the Championship back in 2006?
JD: Yes I do. Having played at Charlton before joining West Ham, I felt sorry as the goals condemned Charlton to the Championship. I just felt afterward that I should offer the club my sympathy and well wishes to bounce straight back to the premiership.
 
TOSH Mag: I must commend the way you comported yourself in the wake of Darren Bent's arrival at Spurs. Everyone thought you would probably hand in another transfer request but you didn't. How would you summarise your time there and your move to Portsmouth FC?
 
JD: I just wanted to fight for my place. New signings ensure that clubs can compete better in various competitions. I loved the fans at Tottenham Spurs and I enjoyed my time there. It was very tough spending time on the bench at times especially because it hampered my England career a bit. At the end, I did my best for the club.
TOSH Mag: Would love to go back to Spurs one day? There are a lot of transfer tips that you would head back and play for Harry Rednapp.
 
JD: I do love to focus and be the best professional footballer out there. I am at Portsmouth FC at the moment and I love it here. Though Harry did organise my signing in the first place, I am playing for the club. I got back into the main stream of the national team because I was given the opportunity to show my skills here at Portsmouth and I would be forever grateful for that. The fans are terrific and I am enjoying my career here.
TOSH Mag: So that is a no from Jermaine regarding going back to Spurs?
 
JD: I can only reinstate that I'm enjoying my time at Portsmouth FC.
TOSH Mag: And finally, what are our chances in qualifying for South Africa 2010? It seems Fabio Capello has changed a lot of things especially the national team's ill-form and low-confidence.
 
JD: We are currently topping our qualifying group and the team is totally focused on qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. We have learnt from the past not to under-estimate opponents and be over confident, so we are just taking every game as it comes along.  Mr. Fabio Capello has done a fabulous job but he would be the first to admit we are not the finished article yet. There is still room for improvement. 
TOSH Mag: Thank you Jermaine for a lovely time and a great interview. I can guarantee you that your fans and our subscribers would love it.
JD: I enjoyed it too. Thank you.