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Before the 2005 / 06 Bellmullet Town home game, OMH spoke to Goalkeeper Ajay Ghelani about his memories and hopes for the club. As always with our number 79, his views were honest and he certainly pulls no punches.
OMH: Hiya Ajay, how are you?
AG: Very good Wheeler.
OMH: Did you enjoy training last night?
AG: No I’m injured now, my knee is killing me . . . it was really good actually, especially as we won!
OMH: Yeah I know my knee aches now! You’ve only played once this season, which was a friendly in September. So you’re only footy has been at training on Wednesday nights. You’ve missed only a couple of nights so you must really be enjoying it?
AG: No not really mate!
Starts laughing
OMH: So you just turn up for the hell of it?
AG: It’s something to do on a Wednesday night. I do enjoy it really!
OMH: It must still be good to show everyone you can still play? I know the Gaffer has been very impressed with your performances. Also its your only opportunity to see some of the players.
AG: Yep.
OMH: Who do you think is your hardest opponent in training?
AG: Jimbob, because he is a fellow keeper I always like to score past him in training.
OMH: What about outfield players?
AG: On the field . . . Jarvo
OMH: Why?
AG: He gets around the pitch, tackling and getting his body in the way of everything.
OMH: You haven’t seen a lot of your team-mates playing this season but we are of course in the last eight of the Middlesex Cup. How far can we get with the players we have?
AG: Well in my opinion it’s in our own hands we have some great players and I think we should win it!
OMH: And you would be available for the final?
AG: Yeah I’d play in the final.
OMH: If selected?
AG: Why would I be dropped?
Both Start laughing
OMH: What part of your game would you like to improve the most?
AG: I don’t know mate. I’m currently in great shape, fit as a fiddle and I have a great physique!
Try’s not laugh
OMH: So not fitness then?
AG: definitely not fitness.
OMH: So where would you wish to improve?
AG: I think shooting has been a bit dodgy in training recently, so lets say that!
OMH: Okay, lots of people don’t realise that in our first season you played up front or right midfield, you were second top scorer but the following year you damaged your knee and you hardly played on the pitch since then. Do you miss playing on the pitch?
AG: No not really mate, it’s much easier playing in goal and the team has progressed too far for me to try and play on the pitch now.
OMH: You’re happy just to play in goal?
AG: I’m much happier watching!! No goalkeeping it is for me!
OMH: What’s your favourite Rangers goal?
AG: It’s got to be Wheeler’s first goal, a penalty against Harrow Observer!
OMH: Cheers Ajay, the money is in the post! Why is it your favourite?
AG: Because I couldn’t believe Skip let you take it and after you scored you didn’t know how to celebrate.
OMH: As usual you’re taking the piss out of me!
AG: yep!
OMH: What has been your favourite Rangers Game? There has to be one that sticks in your mind.
AG: On tour last year when we both made two of the worst challenges in the club’s history!
OMH: Those tackles weren’t too clever! Those Dutch lads just took it though, they didn’t seek any retribution.
AG: They were a bit scared! They saw two fat bastards and they didn’t fancy it and I think they thought that shouldn’t argue with us.
OMH: Who is the most underrated player at the club?
AG: Crofty by a mile, he’s quality but very few people see it!
OMH: Why is he underrated?
AG: He is one of the best players we’ve got! Very rarely has a poor game, he gets around the pitch doing all the dirty work! Wheelie, you’re the most under achieving player at the club. Your last couple of years have been poor!
OMH: I haven’t finished yet! I’ve been injured and working.
AG: no excuse, we need you fit and playing well.
OMH: Thanks Ajay!
AG: No probs.
Both start laughing
OMH: Who’s been the best player since the club has been formed?
AG: Jarvo is comfortably our best ever player. He is just a superb all-round footballer.
OMH: What are his strengths?
AG: Everything!
OMH: No weaknesses?
AG: Get’s injured too much, but I don’t know if that’s his fault?
OMH: If you could change one thing about the club what would it be?
AG: The ground! I would love to go back and play at The Croft. I loved playing there!
OMH: There was something magical about playing at the Theatre of Dreams wasn’t there?
AG: Yeah it was the best water-logged pitch every f*&^£@g year!
OMH: Which tour has been your favourite?
AG: The first one, Amsterdam. It has to be Amsterdam. It was great, a top place to go. We had like eight of us in a room and it was blinding. It was a great set of people. . . . good times!
OMH: Which footballer did you love to watch as a kid?
AG: Roberto Baggio.
OMH: When he was at Juventus or AC Milan?
AG: Any of them, that man was a genius very classy! Maradona was class too.
OMH: Who’s the funniest player at the club?
AG: Dave Morren, because he’ll always do something that will make you laugh or feel better about yourself! But he is a good sport as he takes it as a pinch of salt and weaker people would have left the club years ago!
OMH: You were of course a member of the famous Headstone Rangers ‘Brat Pack’ in the late 90’s that used to go and get wrecked in Harrow. What was your favourite night?
AG: We had a night our in Hendon. You, Matty and Jarv were there. We got so drunk that I fell asleep in the corner for an hour before I was promptly thrown out!
OMH: That was a top night! You were kicked out quite late! Ajay thanks for your time and have a good night.
AG: Its been a pleasure Wheelie, cheers.