Next up on MLSsoccer.com’s Entrance Exam is San Jose
Earthquakes’ diminutive attacker, Anthony Ampaipitakwong. The playmaker enjoyed
a hugely successful college career at the University of Akron, capping it off
with a national championship last autumn.
Ampaipitakwong will likely start 2011 as a key midfield back-up for
Frank Yallop’s Quakes.
MLSsoccer.com: What has been the most unexpected difference between MLS and college so far?
Anthony Ampaipitakwong: It would probably be just the level of training every single day. In college, you could some days take a day off, or not take a day off but cruise through a day if you’re having a tough day or whatnot. But out here ... in San Jose, it’s every single day, every single practice, each guy is coming out and they give a hundred percent. It’s just a competitive nature every single day. And that’s just probably one of the main differences from college to the MLS.
MLSsoccer.com: Which veterans have provided the most guidance to you and in
what way?
Ampaipitakwong: It would probably be Chris Wondolowski. He also plays attacking mid in the same role as I do. He’s actually such a great guy, and he’s given me tons of advice every practice. He’s talking to me, telling me what to do. And even in games that he didn’t play in, that the reserves played, that the rookies and the youngsters got their minutes in, he was telling me things I should do on the field, finding positions, keeping the ball, playing one- or two-touch. So he’s been probably the biggest help to me.
MLSsoccer.com: He
seems like a good guy to take advice from in terms of sticking to it and
knowing that if you keep working, you’ll eventually get a chance to break
through.
Ampaipitakwong: Oh yeah, definitely. I mean, I know I’m a young player in this team and I’m a rookie, and it’s so easy for me to expect to just come onto this team and try to get minutes. And that’s something I have to earn and that’s something that I have to progress to each day and develop myself to earn that starting spot. I know it takes time, but I’m not going to be in any rush or it’s not gonna frustrate me. I’m just gonna keep going every day and trying to get better.
MLSsoccer.com: It’s the MLS Cup final, it’s tied and it’s heading to penalties. Do you want
to be one of the five penalty takers?
Ampaipitakwong: I would definitely take a penalty kick, no doubt.
MLSsoccer.com: You
did that in college some, right?
Ampaipitakwong: We did it in the 2009 College Cup final [against Virginia]. I actually was hurt, so I couldn’t take any. I didn’t even play the second half. I had to watch from the sideline. We actually lost in PK’s [3-2], and that was the most frustrating thing I’ve seen.
MLSsoccer.com: So you
would definitely want the responsibility to be out there and be one of the
five.
Ampaipitakwong: Definitely.
MLSsoccer.com: Would
you try to go first to set the tone?
Ampaipitakwong: If that’s what the team needed. I usually do go first, when I did take ‘em in the past. And if that’s what the team needed, I would step up and try to take the first to set the tone.
MLSsoccer.com: Have you come up with a goal celebration yet or will you go
spontaneous?
Ampaipitakwong: (Laughs) If I score my first goal, I would probably go spontaneous for the first one. I just don’t know what I would do exactly, but in college I had a couple of goal celebrations with the guys. We’ll see how that turns out and what the San Jose Earthquakes have in store first. But that first one will probably be just excitement and pure rush.
MLSsoccer.com: So
you’ll just be running around in circles pretty much?
Ampaipitakwong: I probably will look like an idiot running around, yeah. (laughs)
MLSsoccer.com: Is there anything that you would like to say to the hardcore Casbah and Ultras supporters?
Ampaipitakwong: Oh my god, I met a couple of them during a couple of appearances for season ticket holders, and they’re crazy and they are so fun. But I just want to say I’m excited to be a part of the Earthquakes, and I’m excited to be behind them and playing in front of them every single game. It’s gonna be an exciting year.
