North Village are going through a trying period and many Bermudians would love to see them relegated, but the reality is they simply have too much quality for such a thing to happen.

Village possess many talented players, but this week I focus on none other than Ralph Bean jr. Well mannered, silky smooth, inspiring, classy, and definitely entertaining are just a few words I can use to describe him.

The following is a Q&A I conducted with Ralph.

Q: How has playing with the Bermuda Hogges helped you develop?

A: The level of football is higher in the USL than it is here in Bermuda. Playing consistently at a higher level will obviously cause you to raise your own standard. (Shaun) Goater and Kyle (Lightbourne) also have a wealth of knowledge from their experiences in England.

Q: In recent years you have been reluctant to play for Bermuda. Can you explain why?

A: There are many reasons why my involvement with the national programme has been sporadic over recent years. Firstly, when I returned home from school I had a decision to make on whether I wanted to pursue a career in football or join the real world and get a job in the field that I had studied. I chose the latter and from that point on, football was not high on my priority list as it had been in the past. Secondly, there was little consistency with the senior national programme at that time. Everything was so unprofessional that it was not appealing at all – same gear, same problems with training facilities, plus lack of communication, planning and so on. Oftentimes a team would be just thrown together a couple of weeks before a tournament and amazingly people expected to see positive results. What type of athlete wants to continuously go into situations where they know full well that they have not had sufficient preparation? Having just come from a professional environment in college, it was very difficult to accept and commit to something that I know was below standard.

Q: Recently you have been used more as an out and out striker. What is your preferred position because I know you used to play midfield?

A: I prefer to play in the midfield right behind the strikers. I like to have touches on the ball and be involved in the build-up. As a striker it is not uncommon to go through periods of the game where you do not see much of the ball and I find that frustrating at times. At Village we have more than enough players who can handle the ball and run the midfield, so it's best for the team if I play a striker's role.

Q: North Village have had a rough start to the season. As captain what do you think has gone wrong?

A: We have quite a few new faces in our squad this season which is not very common for Village. Inevitably it is taking some time for us to gel and start playing well together. Add that to the fact that we were not nearly fit enough at the beginning of the season and that's what you get as a result.

Q: When I watch you play, you remind me of Ryan Giggs, running at defences causing havoc. Is there anyone in the football world that you try to model your game around?

A: I've never modelled my game on any one player. Truthfully, I try to pick up different things from the players around me because every player has something that they do particularly well. All you have to do is recognise what each player's qualities are and then observe. Besides, for entertainment, that's one of the reasons I watch football so regularly, even First Division games. An in-form player from another team can be very inspiring and I use it as motivation.

Q: Who is your favourite player and why?

A: Zinadine Zidane, because he was always in total control of himself, the ball and his marker. He made it look so easy and most importantly he knew how to win.

Q: In the past, North Village have dominated and practically owned the National Stadium (the carpet). What is it about playing there that makes North Village virtually invincible?

A: Village normally do well at the Stadium because of the size of the pitch and the quality of the surface as it is more conducive to our passing style of play. Lack of quality playing surfaces is one of the main problems with the standard of football in this Island.

In closing, Ralph Bean is a true leader and an exceptional player. He and his team-mates' guts and passion will be tested over the next few weeks and months. Yes, they have given up seven goals on two occasions, but I urge them to read my motto and seek strength from it.

Motto for the week: "For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again" – Proverbs 24:16