safc.com’s Sam Lightle catches up with Swedish youngster Benji Kimpioka about pre-season, training with the under-23s and aspirations for the new season.
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Benji, you’re three weeks into pre-season now how have you found it?
“It has gone well so far. I had been preparing for it all over the summer so I feel good and just excited for the new season to start now.”
You went away to Austria with the first-team and under-23s, was that a surprise for you?
“It was a bit but before I went on my summer break at the end of last season I was told I would be stepping up. The coaches told me and I was buzzing to be honest. It has given me a big boost for the new season. Austria was hard but I'm ready for the competition to begin now and excited for what is ahead.”
What does it mean to step up to the under-23s a year early?
“It gives me a lot of confidence because I’m coming up against players who are older. I have to earn my place in games. I can’t afford to be satisfied with just playing. I always have to want to push on and better myself, hopefully I can do that this season.”
Like every player out there now you are putting in plenty of graft for the new season, and I’m sure it’s a season with high hopes…
“Absolutely. For me, it is probably one of the most important seasons in my life. If not, the most important one. I want to earn my place. I want to earn a starting place. I don’t want to stand still. Hopefully my hard work will help me get there and I can keep rising up.”
