Ofentse Nato Post ISL Final Interview
Interview ~ IndianSuperLeague.com 2014/12/20
Atlético de Kolkata were crowned the first champions of the Hero Indian Super
League in a game that saw the winning goal being scored dramatically in stoppage
time by substitute Mohammed Rafique. Along with Rafique, there are a host of other
players who deserve mention for their contribution to the win, and one of them has
been midfielder Ofentse Nato.
Ofentse Nato: Firstly, I’d like to thank the Atlético management and supporters,
players and mostly the coach, for whatever he has done and the confidence he has
given us. It’s an honour for us to be champions. We dreamt about this. It was our
obligation, it was our objective to come here and win the league.
The midfielder also credited his team for the fighting spirit that got them through the tough times.
Ofentse Nato: If you look at our performance from the beginning of the league, we started very well, but at times we collapsed, and we managed it. The best thing is what you do after falling down. So, as true champions, we managed to lift ourselves up. We are very proud of this moment.
Nato has been a vital cog in the title winning machine that is Kolkata, featuring for the team wherever head coach Antonio López Habas has fielded him. Mostly playing as a holding midfielder, he has complimented Borja Fernández in the centre of the park, snuffing out attacks before they materialize, and the Botswanan has also slotted into the centre of defence. Kolkata did not concede a single goal in the knockout phase of the tournament, and Nato is proud of that.
Ofentse Nato: Yes, for sure, as a player you have to proud of the department you’re involved in for the results the team gets. Sometimes it’s not about the individuals, it’s about the team, and Atlético is about you as a player, how much you give in individually. We knew that we would reach the semi-finals and it would be hard for teams to beat us because of the way we defend.
Nato also had special praise reserved for the hero of the day, Mohammed Rafique, for being a true sportsman and professional and taking his chance when he was presented with one.
Ofentse Nato: It’s a hard decision for the coach, because he has to keep well with the players who are playing and at the same time, he has to make sure that ones who are not playing, you keep them happy, and you keep them at the same levels as the ones who are playing. So as for Mohammed Rafique, the chance he got, he made use of that, and for his development as a young player, it’s good for him.
