FORMER Newcastle United frontman James Troisi on early morning wake-up calls in Turkey, match-fixing and making the Socceroos grade.

In recent years Turkey has been a common hunting ground for Socceroo hopefuls. At one point Lucas Neill, Harry Kewell, Mile Jedinak, Bruce Djite, Michael Petkovic and James Troisi all plied their trade in the passionate Turkish league. Currently just the latter, alongside potential Socceroo Ersan Gulum, are left in the league.

Adelaide-born Troisi, who spent several years as a youngster at EPL side Newcastle United with limited first-team chances, is hoping that he can use this transition period for the Socceroos as an opportunity to push for a place during the upcoming World Cup qualifications across Asia in the next few months.

After moving to Turkish side Genclerbirligi in 2008, Troisi managed to grab his first career hat-trick in January 2009, against 2008 Turkish Cup winners Kayserispor. His rivals on the day liked what they saw and signed the young Aussie in the next closed season.

While his time at Kayserispor has been plagued with injury, after a solid pre-season with no problems, the 23-year-old is confident he can help his side, who spent the first half of last season near the summit of the league before finishing sixth, to European qualification this time around.

Troisi has also found favour with new Socceroo coach Holger Oseick, who selected him for the recent friendly with New Zealand in Troisi’s hometown of Adelaide. A decent display, capped with a penalty conversion, would have done Troisi’s future chances no harm. While the World Cup qualifiers, and then Brazil 2014, all offer young Aussie players the ultimate carrot of motivation, it will not be easy to claim a spot. There are also a few players keen to make a spot in the Socceroos’ front-line their own. Troisi will need to stay fit and be firing to play a part in Holger’s plans.

We spoke to Troisi from Turkey about making the international grade, the match-fixing scandal which has delayed the start of the Turkish season and 5am wake-up calls from the local mosque!

You have now called Turkey home for the past three years. How is life treating you there? Anything in particular you enjoy about the country?
It is completely different to most places in the world. It took a little time to settle in, but now I am used to it. It makes you grow as a person as it can be a tough place to live, but I love the weather and the food is really good too. I can’t complain too much. 

How is it “completely different to most places” as you mentioned?
It is a Muslim country and that takes a while to get used to. They have to pray five times a day, so there are mosques within walking distance of most houses. The mosques play music five times a day, the first time at 5am in the morning and then lastly at 10pm at night. I have got used to that, but it did take a while!

The Turkish season was due to start in August, before a match-fixing scandal pushed the start date to September. How has that affected preparations this pre-season?
It is frustrating. Putting the season back a month means we had a 12-week pre-season. We were back on 27 June for training and the match-fixing scandal did not surface until 3 July. It is just about maintaining our fitness and making sure we do not over do it. We had some extra friendly games to get us ready too.

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What has been the reaction of the passionate Turkish fans over the delay?
Most of the stuff has been in Istanbul as it has centered on Fenerbahce. We went away on camp so we did not hear much about it. It was still a pretty crazy time, with people taken into jail including a club president!

Your side Kayserispor were sixth last season. How satisfied were the team with that?
We were doing really well at one point. Going into the mid-season break at the end of December we were second. The second half of the season was a big disappointment, we lost five or six games in a row. That was pretty crazy.

What is the target this season? Breaking into a European qualification place?
Considering we were second last season and the season before we spent time in first position, then yes we should be aiming to at least make Europe this season.

How about you personally, how did you go last season?
I had an operation on my groin and I was out for the first four or five months of the season. I got back and played three or four, played well, but then picked up another injury and returned to Australia for an operation. I am fit now, so hopefully I can contribute more this season.

You spent a few years on the fringes of Premier League football with Newcastle United – how do you reflect on that time?
It was great – the players I trained and played with everyday were amazing. I was there for four and a half years but as a youngster it was very difficult to break into the first team. You have big name players who have been bought for big money in front of you, so it was difficult for young players like myself to get a gig. I could have stayed there but I felt it was best for me to move elsewhere and start playing on a more regular basis.

You are from Adelaide originally, do you still keep tabs on their A-League progress? Would that be the most likely destination should you return to the A-League?
That is still a long, long way off at the moment. Hopefully I have a few more years overseas yet. I try and stay in touch with what is happening. We do not get much A-League coverage over here, so I go on the Internet to see what is happening. As for Adelaide, they have recruited some very good players and they will do well this season.

It is all change for the Socceroos at the moment and there seems like a real opportunity to push for a striker spot – how much of an extra motivation is that for you?
Of course – it is a new era. It is a chance for the youngsters to start showing what they can do. The coach [Holger Oseick] is giving us a chance. I did not get much of a chance under former coach Pim [Verbeek], which was unfortunate. So far things have been good under Holger and he has given me and some of the other youngsters an opportunity. There are definitely spots up for grabs in the squad.   

Is that out-and-out striker role your preferred Socceroo position? Or would you rather be doing a job on the wing?
My preferred position is in the centre as a striker. I am playing as more of an attacking midfielder at my club. While the central role is ideal for me, I just want to be out on the park, so it is not a problem if I have to play out wide. Ideally I would like to play as the second striker.

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While there is an opportunity for a spot in the Socceroos, there is also plenty of competition. With Kennedy, McDonald, Kruse, Rukavytsya, Leckie...
We need good players and you want to play with good players. There is plenty of competition and that keeps everyone on their toes. There is no chance of getting comfortable in the team as there are others vying for your spot.

You got your first Socceroos’ goal from the spot against New Zealand in June – how was that?
It was great to be back home and scoring in front of my family and friends. Overall it was just great being back playing for the Socceroos and being given an opportunity.

We also did not recognise you at first – what happened to the long locks?!
When I got to Turkey it was really hot! When I was in England it was never sunny and always raining and cold. When I got to Turkey my hair was really long so I needed a bit of a change.

Has it helped your play at all? Are you now more aerodynamic?!
[Laughs] Not really! I did not mind the long hair so it might come back one day, but for now I will keep it short!   

We have discovered our group for World Cup qualification. What do you make of taking on Oman, Saudi Arabia and Thailand?
It is always difficult with these games, with the conditions and the travel. On paper we have the better players, but there are other factors which make it more difficult. We will see how it goes, but if we take it seriously I am confident.

It is a lengthy World Cup qualification process coming up, how will your club react to the travel you will need to do?
I have not spoken to them about it yet. It all comes under FIFA dates, but we will have to see how it goes. They might get a little bit funny, but I will take it as it comes. Our coach [Shota Arveladze] was an international player, so he will understand.

Is your future long-term in Turkey?
You are always striving for bigger and better things and to go as high as you can. I still have two years left on my deal here, but football is crazy and you never know what will happen. The most important thing for me is that I’m back playing.

As for the Brazil 2014 World Cup – how much does that cross your mind? How much does that work as a motivation?
It is a nice feeling, but I need to concentrate on staying fit and playing. If I can do that I give myself a chance of being involved with the nationalteam. If I get my opportunity, then I have to take it.  

James Troisi is wearing a Nike Windrunner RRP $100 and Nike Air Max 90 trainers RRP $180. For Nike stockist information, ring 1300 656 453.

This article appeared in the October 2011 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

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