Football: Interview with Seychelles-born professional Kevin Betsy-“I’ve got so many things I’d love to do for the youths of Seychelles” |15 June 2007
A regular in the Wycombe team during the 2005/06 season, Betsy was honoured by his fellow professionals by being named in the Professional Footballers's Association (PFA) "Team Of The Year" for League Two in April 2006.
He joined Bristol City in January 2007 and played a part in helping the team win promotion to the Championship. His target is to help Bristol City maintain their place in their first season in the second tier of English football in nine years.
Sports Nation caught up with Betsy on Wednesday night at the Fisherman’s Cove Hotel and we bring you this interview.
Sports Nation: How was your last season in the English League Two?
Kevin Betsy: I started the season with Wycombe Wanderers in League Two title. I decided to make the drop in division, although some people thought it was a step backwards, because I wanted to be close to my family down south. It proved to be a god move as I enjoyed my football playing for an ambitious club. It was also a good chance for me to establish myself and my confidence. I think that if you’re happy off the pitch, you’re also happy on the pitch.
During the second year of my two-year contract, my agent contacted me saying that Bristol City wanted to sign me. At that time Bristol City were third in the League One and were fighting for promotion to the Championship. Bristol City are a big club with gates of between 15,000 and 16,000 fans compared to Wycombe Wanderers’ gate of 6,000 fans.
My last game for Wycombe Wanderers was against Premier League side Chelsea in the semifinal of the Carling Cup. We drew 1-1 in the first leg at home and the lost 4-0 away. For a club like Wycombe to reach the semifinals of the Carling Cup it is quite a good achievement. Bristol City managed to persuade the chairman of Wycombe Wanderers and I was transferred for £200,000. I was going to be a free in the summer anyway and for Wycombe to get £200,000 for a 29-year-old is good money.
Wycombe offered me a good contract to stay, but it was about enhancing my football and playing in a higher division. It was a choice I made after discussing with my wife. Bristol City offered me the chance to get into the Championship.
They were third when I joined in January, 2007 and the manager (Garry Johnson) is very ambitious. We had a good run, staying unbeaten in 11 matches and our manager got the ‘Manager of the Month’ award. We finished second in League One to win automatic promotion to the Championship. All in all, it was a great move for me and I’m very happy.
Sports Nation: How did it feel like to win promotion to the Championship?
Kevin Betsy: I enjoyed promotion before with Fulham, but Bristol City had been in League One for nine years. In England we call this a sleeping giant because the fan base is very big and we had 19,000 fans in the stadium for our last six games, but every two years the team missed out on promotion. This was the chance for the team to do it. It was a fantastic feeling. It was an amazing feeling to give something to the people of Bristol.
Sports Nation: What are your expectations for the new season?
Kevin Betsy: I’m looking forward to the new season and I’ve been training hard. I’m trying to maintain my fitness level during the off-season because it’s going to be a big season. Other than the Premiership, the Championship is a good league. In England, every league is tough and every young boy wants to play professional football, but you want to play at the highest level you possibly can. League Two, for example, is a good division and you get paid very well. I’ve played in the Championship before. Although competition for places is even bigger and you should always be at the top of your game, I want to cement my place on the team. I’m really looking forward to the new season.
Our manager used to be the manager of the Latvia national team and he’s got good contacts there. Every year the team go for pre-season training in Latvia and we’re going there again next month.
Sports Nation: Club manager Johnson has also said he is looking for three or four new players…
Kevin Betsy: Every club has to improve. Manchester United signed three new players last week to strengthen their squad even when they are at the top of the Premiership. The best teams do that and we’re no different. Competition for places brings success to the team.
Sports Nation: Bristol City’s chief executive Colin Sextone said the team could struggle in the Championship. Do you agree?
Kevin Betsy: We’re optimistic. Like I said before, Bristol City have a good fan base. When you move from a lower division to a higher one, everyone expects you to be relegated at the end of the season. Last season Watford thought they were going to struggle in the Premiership and Wigan the year before. We think we’ve got a good squad, but it’s going to be difficult. It’s the Championship with big name internationals. It’s good standard of football and you play against big teams before crowds of 30,000 every week.
Sports Nation: Finally, do you have a future with Seychelles’ football?
Kevin Betsy: On the pitch, I don’t know. But I’ve got so many things I’d love to do for the youths of Seychelles. Young boys always aspire to do something and in Seychelles young boys aren’t different. They love football. As you walk or drive around in Seychelles, you see boys playing football. I think I’m kind of a role model to some of these children and I need to give something back to Seychelles. I firmly believe that Seychelles can produce more professional players. I was the first and Chelsea’s Mancienne (Michael, son of former Seychelles midfielder Mike Mancienne) is also doing good. He was on loan to Championship side Queens Park Rangers last season. He is young and has a great future. Unfortunately I won’t be able to watch Saturday’s match, but I wish the Seychelles team all the best.
G. G.