Paul ‘Cheesy’ Rossodivita is the second foreigner to play for the Rangers after Ross ‘Minky’ Minckler. Cheesy has already proved himself as a legend on and off the field. But was does Cheesy think about his team-mates, Clarkey’s rugby skills and his hopes for the rest of the season? Wheels asks the questions.
JW: Hello Cheesy how’s it going mate?
PR: Not bad Wheels, yourself?
JW: Can’t grumble Cheesy, can’t grumble! Are you enjoying the season with the team?
PR: It’s been awesome mate! I’ve made a lot of friends which is great, it’s kept me fit and had a really great laugh!
JW: What’s more important to you? The playing or the mates off the pitch?
PR: I’m not particularly brilliant so I will say the mates off the pitch.
JW: Fair enough mate! You’ve been very unlucky with injuries this year. I know for a fact there was about a two month gap between your first and second appearance for the club. Has this affected your fitness and maybe the quality of your performances?
PR: Yeah definitely I believe the second half of the season will be good for me! I just wanna finish the season with one goal.
JW: One goal! Hang in there mate as I had to wait a while for my first one! Where do you think you should be playing position wise? You’ve had a spell up front, full back and midfield but where would you be most comfortable?
PR: I would like to have a run in the team at right back and just see how it goes. I just wanna get stuck in and crack some heads. But I’ll play wherever the Gaffer needs me!
JW: Wherever the Gaffer needs me! Not a lot of people know about your footballing background, pre-Headstone Rangers. How old were you when you started playing football?
PR: I was eight years old and I played till I was 18 and then had three years off and started playing with Headstone Rangers!
JW: You were quite a decent rugby player. Did rugby and football clash at all? Or are they played at different times?
PR: They were actually played at different times of they year. But the thing is the seasons weren’t as long as a football season in the UK. They would be like half as long as our season now.
JW: What position did you play in South Africa?
PR: I played Scrum Half and a bit of Fly Half. Would have loved to have played against Clarkey as I think that I would have taken his head off!
JW: (Starts laughing) I actually meant football mate but I didn’t want to stop you once you were in full flow!
(both start laughing)
PR: Football I started off in the centre of midfield, but then they realised that I had no ball control they put me into the centre of defence so I could get stuck in, head the ball and just get the ball away.
JW: Which team do you support then Cheesy?
PR:
(Begins to giggle) I love Man United mate, ever since the old Robson and
Hughes days. That’s what I grew up with in South Africa.
JW: You told me you supported AC Milan for the website!
PR: Well Italian sides, My dad is Italian so he likes Juventus so of course I had to support the opposite so I chose AC Milan. I liked them when they had the Dutch trio of Gullit, Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard.
JW: Man United V AC Milan who are you going to support then?
PR: I don’t know Wheels, I’m am torn straight down the middle!
JW: Who is the best player at the Ranger? In your opinion?
PR: That’s a toughie, it depends on what type of player you’re looking for. Are you looking for a skilful player or a workhorse?
JW: You can only pick one Cheesy?
PR: He hasn’t played too much this year and I’m looking forward to seeing much more of him as I think Jarvo oozes quality.
JW: Yep good choice mate, he’s a quality player! Moving swiftly along are you looking forward to football tour?
PR: Can’t wait for tour mate! It’s going to be absolutely brilliant we’re going to get absolutely battered. Unfortunately Melanie might not be coming but it can be a good thing as I can get absolutely battered with the lads and not have to worry about looking after my girl! Teach you all a South African trick or two!
JW: You were great on cricket tour and you’ll be even better on the football tour!
PR: Me and Liggo will sniff out a little strip joint for the rest of you who want to see some naked ladies dancing! Don’t put that in the programme!
JW: Too late it’s on tape! Have you been on a football tour before?
PR: Never been on a football tour mate. I’ve been on rugby and cricket tours but never a soccer one! We’ll see how it goes!
JW: Have you got a message for the Dutch people? As they can read this interview online?
PR: Can I say it in Dutch?
JW: If you want, can you speak Dutch?
PR: Ek kan a bietjie praat!
JW: What does that mean?
PR: I can speak a little!
JW: That’s good to know.
PR: Jy is a Skaap naaire!
JW: What does that mean?
PR: Lets just leave it there. Just print it in the programme and I’ll tell everyone about it on Sunday!
JW: If there was one thing you could change about the team what would it be?
PR: Nothing really major. I wouldn’t mind seeing a few more people at training on a regular basis. Everybody does a good job, we all have a good laugh. We’re not going to be professional footballers so we all know where we stand and what we have to do each Sunday. I’m sure if anything needs changing the Gaffer and the people who make the decisions will do the right thing.
JW: Who’s the funniest player at the club and why?
PR: The funniest player has gotta be Chandler with all his ‘mum’ jokes.
JW: What else makes him the funniest?
PR: Well I’ve never seen Jesus play football firstly! He’s a great player to have on your side, fantastic player but if I was playing against him I would probably want to knock him out. He’s a great laugh on the field, gives 110% and he likes to play around!
JW: Right . . . (trying not to laugh) what do you mean ‘play around’? What or who does he play around with?
PR: He loves flicking men’s’ arses in the bloody shower room which is a bit disturbing but we’ll leave it there.
JW: It might just be that he’s very comfortable with himself!
PR: It might be, but he is very comfortable with Clarkey actually. I hope Fran and Jennie know about them!
JW: What about your nickname. Its now legendary but do you like it?
PR: In the beginning I absolutely hated it I must admit that. But there’s nothing better on a football field than Wheeler going . . .
(does stupid voice)
PR: ‘Go on Cheesy get it!’. I have taken to it now though.
JW: Did you have a nickname in South Africa?
PR: I was a bit of an idiot on the rugby field, I used to run around like a headless chicken which is exactly the same as on the football field now. So they used to call me ‘Mad Cow’. But we will leave that there!
JW: So if you had a final message for the rest of team now Cheesy what would it be?
PR: Can it be a long one?
JW: It can be as long as you want mate.
PR: Coming over from South Africa obviously it’s not going to be easy to make mates and to allow me to join the team and make so many good friends its been awesome and I really hope I can stick it out for a lot longer and thanks to everyone!
JW: Thanks Cheesy.
PR: Keep well Wheels!