It’s Monday and Kingsley Ehizibue is beaming on the Udinese Tonight sofa. The Dutch right-back spoke about what has changed in the Udinese dressing room this season, his relationship with his faith and one of his special talents. Here’s what he said:
“We are happy. We won the last game and we’re doing well in the league this year. We’ve made excellent progress. Thanks to the coach and the staff we have a positive mindset compared to last year, when we always lost at home. The gaffer wants us to win in front of our fans. The mindset has changed on the pitch, in the dressing room and in the offices. We’re happier. You’re obviously even happier when you win, but even against Inter we were pleased with our performance. We lost but it’s different to last year.
“I feel really good and I thank God for that. I want to improve every day in lots of areas of my game. I’m playing lots of games and getting a lot more minutes on the pitch. Now I want to get goals and assists for the team. That will be another step forward. There’s a lot of work to do.
“Right away, there was a feeling of trust with the coach. He’s different. He’s special. All the players are important for him, whether they’re playing or not. On the pitch he asks me to make runs forward but also to get back. I have to work hard.”
This year Kingsley has always played on the right, but previously he’s played on the other side too. A viewer asked how it changes playing at right- or left-back. “It changes everything when you play on the other side. It’s easier for me to drift into the centre from the left, but that becomes harder when I’m getting pressed. I need to get better with my left foot.”
Besides what’s happening on the pitch, Kingsley also talks about his relationship with his faith. “God changed my life. He gives me trust, peace and strength. Now I don’t just think about myself; I want to give something to other people. Even if that’s just a smile. I wasn’t like that when I was little. I was a bit crazy. I was shy and always angry. Then my faith grew and it changed my life.”
“There’s a great atmosphere in the changing room and Gokhan [Inler] has contributed a lot to that. He talks to everyone. He’s got a lot of experience, speaks a lot of languages and has the desire to win, and that’s what Udinese need. We mustn’t get complacent. Just like [Christian] Kabasele, [Hassane] Kamara, [Lautaro] Giannetti, [Florian] Thauvin, Jaka [Bijol] and [Daniele] Padelli, I have a responsibility to the team on and off the pitch.”
He was then asked to compare his closest team-mates on the pitch, past and present. “[Nehuen] Perez is a great player but so is Kabasele. I can talk to him in English. Communication is important. Now it’s easier for me.”
And when it comes to settling into the city, he says: “Sometimes I go out for a coffee in Udine - well, an oat milk cappuccino because I’m lactose intolerant!”
And finally, one of his talents has emerged on TikTok in the last few days. “Over the years, I’ve discovered my talent for singing, partly from singing in the shower. I believe I have an innate ability. I want to practise my singing and piano playing, but my job on the pitch comes first. Singing is important for me and it helps me to relax. It’s one of the things I really like along with football, art and dancing.”
“We are happy. We won the last game and we’re doing well in the league this year. We’ve made excellent progress. Thanks to the coach and the staff we have a positive mindset compared to last year, when we always lost at home. The gaffer wants us to win in front of our fans. The mindset has changed on the pitch, in the dressing room and in the offices. We’re happier. You’re obviously even happier when you win, but even against Inter we were pleased with our performance. We lost but it’s different to last year.
“I feel really good and I thank God for that. I want to improve every day in lots of areas of my game. I’m playing lots of games and getting a lot more minutes on the pitch. Now I want to get goals and assists for the team. That will be another step forward. There’s a lot of work to do.
“Right away, there was a feeling of trust with the coach. He’s different. He’s special. All the players are important for him, whether they’re playing or not. On the pitch he asks me to make runs forward but also to get back. I have to work hard.”
This year Kingsley has always played on the right, but previously he’s played on the other side too. A viewer asked how it changes playing at right- or left-back. “It changes everything when you play on the other side. It’s easier for me to drift into the centre from the left, but that becomes harder when I’m getting pressed. I need to get better with my left foot.”
Besides what’s happening on the pitch, Kingsley also talks about his relationship with his faith. “God changed my life. He gives me trust, peace and strength. Now I don’t just think about myself; I want to give something to other people. Even if that’s just a smile. I wasn’t like that when I was little. I was a bit crazy. I was shy and always angry. Then my faith grew and it changed my life.”
“There’s a great atmosphere in the changing room and Gokhan [Inler] has contributed a lot to that. He talks to everyone. He’s got a lot of experience, speaks a lot of languages and has the desire to win, and that’s what Udinese need. We mustn’t get complacent. Just like [Christian] Kabasele, [Hassane] Kamara, [Lautaro] Giannetti, [Florian] Thauvin, Jaka [Bijol] and [Daniele] Padelli, I have a responsibility to the team on and off the pitch.”
He was then asked to compare his closest team-mates on the pitch, past and present. “[Nehuen] Perez is a great player but so is Kabasele. I can talk to him in English. Communication is important. Now it’s easier for me.”
And when it comes to settling into the city, he says: “Sometimes I go out for a coffee in Udine - well, an oat milk cappuccino because I’m lactose intolerant!”
And finally, one of his talents has emerged on TikTok in the last few days. “Over the years, I’ve discovered my talent for singing, partly from singing in the shower. I believe I have an innate ability. I want to practise my singing and piano playing, but my job on the pitch comes first. Singing is important for me and it helps me to relax. It’s one of the things I really like along with football, art and dancing.”