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I want to keep playing in the Premiership

Keith Fenech started his football career quite late, but nevertheless turned out to be one of the best midfielders in the country. This season was not a good one for him, as his team Rabat has just been relegated. Keith told RAY ABDILLA that if he fails to join a Premiership team, he might quit the game.

"I can’t believe I am not a Premier Division player anymore. It was a devastating blow for me to lose the relegation decider against Naxxar Lions. Now I am ready to leave Rabat and join another club that will play in the Premiership next season. I have heard that Marsa are interested, but there’s nothing official yet - I have to wait."

Kieth Fenech (right) trying to stop Valletta striker Pavel Mraz

These are the words of Rabat midfielder Keith Fenech who, despite not having one of his best seasons with the big boys, is surely one of the best prospects on the Islands.

Keith, 23, told SportToday that he might even quit football if no Premiership club bid for him.

Fenech said that with no disrespect to Rabat, he feels that his future lies solely at the top. He played for six seasons in the First Division and knows how tough and competitive it is, but you simply can’t compare it with the Premiership.

The Rabat midfielder said that just playing at Ta’ Qali is in itself an achievement. "For me it is like playing at the San Siro stadium in Milan," he said.

Despite not wanting anything to do with First Division football, he is not ruling out trying to help Rabat win back their place with the big boys. He said that many might feel he is rather big headed by not wanting to play in an inferior league, but he said that it is not the case. He said that he wants to improve his career and because Rabat are unfortunately not a big club, they will keep on fighting against the drop even if they win promotion again.

Fenech said that if he decides to stay with Rabat, he will do everything he can to help them be promoted again, but he is not ready to play without motivation - as that will not only damage him but also the club.

He believes that Rabat will still find it tough going in Division 1 next season. He does not believe that the Magpies will take the First Division by storm because the league has improved and that sides such as Qormi, St Patrick and Marsaxlokk will be a hard nut to crack.

Fenech said that he does not believe that the 4-1 mauling from Naxxar Lions on the last day of the season was the final nail in the side’s the coffin. He said that the 3-3 draw in the first round of the relegation pool, also against the Lions, was the reason of their downfall. With 3-1 in the lead and letting Naxxar equalise in the last few minutes were the reasons for Rabat’s downfall. A win on that day would have meant that Rabat would have been practically safe.
Taking into consideration the games played last season in the relegation pool, Fenech said that Rabat had never been beaten before. This year against the more consistent Pietà, Rabat managed to beat them once and equalise on the other occasion.

The former Mellieha midfielder said that luck was never on Rabat’s side this season and that they had to rely too much on player-coach Ziya Yildiz.

With only one foreign player permitted to play in Division 1, things look more bleak and although there are some good players from the Under 18s knocking on the door, it is not going to be easy.

Speaking about Rabat’s mishaps this season, he said that they didn’t have a good, reliable forward who would have scored on the chances he had. Besides, he said, Rabat are always a team who tend to take time to pick up their form. This is what it happened at the beginning of the season.

Fenech said that it is a pity that players are sold and not bought by the club. He said that around 33 players have been sold during the last six years.

Regarding how he mixes the sport with work, Fenech said that it is not very easy. He said that he sometimes has to start work at around 6 a.m. in order to leave a bit early to attend the club’s training session.

Keith keeps himself in good shape and when he is playing he rests and prepares for the match like a true professional. The week of the match he does not go out and only eats pasta, vegetables and drinks milk. On match days he never eats fried food – he eats pasta and if it is on a Sunday he first goes to church. In fact, he never misses mass.

Then about four hours prior to the match he eats some pasta and together with William Borg (defender who plays for Rabat) they go down to the Rabat football club from Mellieha. This would be a couple of hours prior to the match.

He always goes to Rabat with William as he then finds a lift back with his girlfriend, who rarely misses a game. His girlfriend Deanna used to play football as well, but she stopped after getting injured.

Regarding the football season he said that the best team on the Island won the league. Fenech added that Sliema were practically just as good but not as consistent.

Speaking on the Premier League format, he said that he is in favour of the present format but he does not agree with the six teams for the Championship Pool system and the four teams for the relegation pool. He believes that it is not fair that the sides fighting for relegation play fewer matches than the championships contenders. He believes that, like in the championship pool, there should be six teams fighting it out for relegation.

Regarding the national team, the Rabat midfielder said that the amount of abuse and criticism the players and the coach are receiving is not fair. Fenech said that, like any other clubs and national sides, there are both the ups and the downs. These are the same players who did so well against England and Northern Ireland and they have not turned into bad player’s overnight.

Regarding his position as a defensive-minded midfielder, the former Mellieha player said that it is his best position. Although he tends to get sent-off or booked because if his commitment, it is a position he cherishes.

"This season has not been a very good season, not just for Rabat, but also for myself. I was sent-off three times and that is maybe through the extra commitment I put in. But I need to adjust better to such situations. I do sometimes play as a stopper and also this season as a right-wing, but I do not find myself in a comfortable position unless as a defensive minded midfielder," he said.

He also believes he should improve his play. "I need to dribble and shoot more." Regarding the player he most admires in his position, he cited Edgar Davids.