Canadian international, Ben Fisk, joined Deportivo in August as a free agent. Following an impressive season at Coruxo, and after leaving Vancouver Whitecaps, he was approached by Los Blanquiazules. The forward, aged 22, becomes the third Canadian to represent the club after Samuel Piette (now on loan at Racing de Ferrol) and Julian De Guzman.
Despite joining to represent the youth team (Fabril), Fisk has high hopes of breaking into the senior side.
I was fortunate enough to catch up with the youngster and ask him a few questions about his career, Canadian football and his big move to Spain.
Chris Moar:
What attracted you to Deportivo?
Ben Fisk:
I wanted to play at the highest level possible and, at the moment, I think La Liga is the best league in the world. Depor are a great club, with prestigious history, and I suppose it doesn’t hurt that they are located in such a beautiful city!
CM:
Do you have aspirations of breaking into the first-team right away?
BF:
Of course. My goal is to break into the first-team here as soon as possible. In 2-3 years, I want to be playing and scoring goals with the first-team here in A Coruña.
CM:
You mention scoring goals – would you say that is a particular strength of yours?
BF:
Definitely. I’ve scored goals at every level I’ve played at and I hope to continue that here.
CM:
On the topic of scoring at every level, you spent last season at Galician club Coruxo and scored a hat-trick against Tropezon. How did you find it there?
BF:
Last season was a great transitional period for me. I was adapting to the Spanish game, as well as living abroad and learning a new foreign culture. I enjoyed my time at Coruxo and I’m utterly grateful to them for allowing me to get my foot in the door of Spanish football.
Fisk kisses the ball that he struck to help Coruxo qualify for the Copa Federación.
CM:
How does Spanish football compare to anything you have witnessed? Have you learned things about the Spanish game that you wish you could pass on to other youngsters in Canada?
BF:
As I said before, I think Spanish football is the best in the world right now. The difference between football here and in Canada is the tactical side of things. In Canada we address the physical, mental and technical side of the game very well, but the tactical side is either neglected entirely or poorly taught. With the national team, though, Benito Flores has really placed emphasis on our tactics and, for that reason alone, I think we will see more successful Canadian teams in the coming years.
CM:
Now that you are at a bigger club, could this be your chance to finally pick up a national team cap?
BF:
I’ve been in camp with the senior team a couple times now without picking up my first cap. But I’m very confident playing in that environment and confident in the fact that, if I just focus on playing well at club level, I will get my first cap soon enough.
CM:
On the topic of Canada, how important is it that many young players have now, more than ever before, have started travelling around the globe in an attempt to develop their games?
BF:
I think it’s very important for Canadian football that we have young players who are ambitious and getting themselves embroiled in different environments around the globe. It is a testament to both the mentality and quality of our players that we are able to find clubs all over the world. It only bodes well for our national team in the future, too.
CM:
Just to wrap things up, since many Depor fans are unaware of your qualities, what would you highlight as a glaring strength/weakness and where are you most comfortable on the pitch?
BF:
I think my biggest strength is my combination of pace and dribbling ability but, if I look at my game critically, I would probably highlight my finishing as a weakness. It needs to be more clinical. As for my most comfortable position, I am happy anywhere in the final third – be it on either wing or up front.
I would like to thank Ben for giving me his time to conduct this interview and I wish him the utmost success at Deportivo.
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