INTERVIEW WITH RICKY AQUILINA - HR CLERK GROUP HUMAN RESOURCES

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO BECOMING A BASKETBALL PLAYER?

Early on in my life it was very clear that my parents needed to enrol me in the world of sports as I was a very athletic person, and sports in general was a big hobby of mine. I remember trying out various sports disciplines, including swimming, handball and badminton. However, basketball was the sport that I enjoyed participating in the most. Basketball coaches also saw potential in me, and this led me to continue pursuing solely this sport.

WHO WERE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES AND ROLE MODELS IN THE SPORT?

My main influence for the love of sports has to do with my uncle and grandfather. Even though they played sports other than basketball, they thought me the values of sports and competition. When it comes to role models in the sport there are plenty, however, the main ones are Michael Jordan and Lebron James – which is like talking about Messi and Ronaldo in the world of football.

HOW DID YOU DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS AND STYLE OF PLAY?

Practice, practice ... and some more practice. Basketball has always been a big part of my life. It would not have been possible to get to where I am today without sacrifices, hard work, discipline and a good support system. The sacrifices you make, the nights in before games, the early mornings to go for practice, and the late nights of studying after practice – all these eventually become a way of life. Furthermore, basketball shaped my character as through it I developed several traits, including the sense of being part of a team, the respect towards teammates and opponents, the sense of commitment, time management, leadership and passion towards something you love. All these are traits that I use in my working career nowadays.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

• Winning the BOV Knockout Cup and Louis Borg Cup with the 1st Division Men.

• Winning the U14, U16, U19 and the 2nd Division League.

• Representing the National team in the U19 FIBA competition.

CAN YOU DISCUSS YOUR TRAINING REGIMEN AND HOW YOU STAY IN TOP PHYSICAL CONDITION?

In my younger years basketball was for leisure, and practice was limited to twice a week. At around the age of 14 I started approaching the sport more seriously. Nowadays I train up to 4 times a week. When called up to the national team, sessions are daily. During this time one trains like a professional, even though work commitments can make it hard to cope. Also, as I continued to grow, I realised how important individual training is. Nowadays, I try to include some morning shooting sessions.

CAN YOU SHARE ANY PERSONAL GOALS OR ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR CAREER?

My main goal is to win the First Division League as well as to be called up with the Men’s National Team. Also, I would like to start coaching once I retire from the sport. In my opinion this would help me to stay in contact and involved with the game of basketball. In a way it will keep my athletic identity alive.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING BASKETBALL PLAYERS TODAY?

From my perspective, in Malta most athletes fall under the category of semi-professional. This means that they must balance their life between work, sport and other day-to-day commitments as they cannot make a living from the sport. Keeping in mind this perspective in today’s modern world I think one can easily conclude how committed one needs to be to this lifestyle. This could lead athletes to quit because their motivation and competitive drive could start to diminish. I think this is the main challenge that Maltese athletes and basketball players in general face nowadays.