anima sana in corpore sano
I ask 15 questions on preparation, motivation, resilience, and language. My aim is to consider the principles underpinning the Asics sports shoe brand name – anima sana in corpore sano (a sound mind in a healthy body). The answers are verbatim.
1. Please tell me how you started out pursuing a career in professional football.
My footballing journey was a bit different to most. I was never part of a football academy and never really had aspirations to be a footballer. It was never something I had thought about to be honest, as the level I was playing at was so low down in the pyramid. I was just playing for my local non-league club with all my friends up until I was 20. A scout for Crewe Alexandra happened to come to one of our games and at the end of it invited me up for a 2-month trial, which I accepted and signed from there!
2. What is the best aspect of being a professional footballer?
Being able to do something you love day, in day out.
3. What are the downsides of professional football?
The sacrifices you have to make and things you miss out on. Weddings, birthdays, Christmases, etc.., I even missed the birth of one of my children!
4. How do you prepare yourself for a match (physical, mental, habits)?
I don’t have any rituals in particular. I just try to keep myself as calm as possible and stay as relaxed as I can. I do some mental imagery in the changing rooms of what I hope will happen in the game.
5. How do you remain motivated, even when the ‘chips are down’?
For me it’s not wanting that feeling of failure. I hate losing so I’ll do anything I can to make to sure I don’t get that feeling and this keeps me going!
6. How do you measure resilience?
I measure it by how well I am able to face/overcome each challenge/setback I face in my life. Finding the positive in every situation.
7. What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
To play every game like it’s going to be your last.
8. What are your favourite three words?
I love you (aww … you softie – REK)
9. Do you speak another language and do you think it is important to be able to?
No. unfortunately I don’t. I did German at school but didn’t stick with it. I think it is a great skill to have particularly when you go into a different country/culture. Being able to communicate with someone in their language shows a level of respect to them, which I think is important.
10. Which is more important: the somatic or the psychological element?
I’d say both are very important, but the psychological element is more important. You can do all the physical training in the world but if your mind isn’t quite right and aligned with everything you won’t be able to perform at your highest level.
11. How would you encourage a young person in the pursuit of their dream(s)?
Leave no stone unturned. Don’t worry about what other people think of you and just go all out for your dreams. You don’t want to look back and think I could have done more if things don’t work out.
12. Which is more important: what we say or how we say it?
I would say how you say it, as anyone can say the words but the way you say it shows your true feelings.
13. How do you deal with negative supporter chants or adverse media reports?
Just try to block it out as much as possible. I t think there will always be people who will have something negative to say so only take criticism/advice from people whose opinion matters to you.
14. Do you think language is powerful?
Yes, as it is a crucial means to be able to help, explain, or express your feelings and emotions.
15. Finally, what will you do after ‘hanging up your boots’?
Good question! I’m not entirely sure to be honest but, it will definitely be in the sports industry. I’m just unsure as to what part of that it will be yet.
Thank you, Jon
Fun bite
The following three items in French are hardly ‘fun’ elements, rather interesting answers to the question: which mistake in French is so entrenched in the French language that people do not believe the correction?
- Quelle faute de français courante est tellement ancrée dans le langage que les gens ne vous croient pas quand vous les corrigez ?
Prononcer ai (“e” accent aigu) de la première personne du futur comme ais (è accent grave) comme la première personne du conditionnel
J’ai beau leur réciter “à l’eau de la claire fontaine” dont les 2 premiers vers ont une rime en ‘é’, ils disent ‘è’ à la dernière:
A l’eau de la claire fontaine m’en allant promener
J’ai trouvé l’eau si claire que je me suis baignée
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime, jamais je ne t’oublierai
Le mauvais accord du participe passé de faire suivi d’un infinitif : elle s’est faite friser, elle s’est faite avoir, mes carottes, je les ai faites cuire
Suivi d’un infinitif, le participe passé de faire est invariable
L’utilisation de l’indicatif avec « après que »
Dans l’usage, les gens utilisent majoritairement le subjonctif
Après qu’ils soient partis au lieu de après qu’ils sont partis
L’utilisation de l’indicatif semble contre nature et sonne bizarre
Pour ne rien arranger au problème, il faut en revanche employer le subjonctif après avant que
Avant qu’ils soient partis
Après qu’ils sont partis
