Geez
10-08-2007, 10:35 AM
Source: Official Site
Darren Bent took time out on safari in South Africa to talk about lions, pace, the long jump and his targets at Spurs...
On a day out on Safari while on tour of South Africa, Jermain Defoe was quick to question the guide over the speed of each individual wild animal in order to assess whether he could out-pace them. Given his athletic background, perhaps the man sitting next to him in the vehicle might have the upper hand in the speed stakes.
Darren Bent reported that he is a 10.5 second man over 100 metres, having been a junior international athlete who specialised in the long jump. It might go some way towards explaining his almost effortless acceleration beyond opposing defences - something he has demonstrated in our colours on a number of occasions over the course of this pre-season.
The safari experience came on the final leg of our South African journey and involved a short-hop flight from Johannesburg. It was an opportunity virtually all of the squad were quick to accept.
"It was brilliant and what a day it was," Darren looked back. “I would never have expected to get so close to the animals. We saw the lions and the elephants really clearly and it was so good," he added, before reflecting on the fact that the three male lions were not looking the liveliest, having not long had a rather sizeable feed.
"You could see by their bellies that were so bloated - they had just eaten!"
Apparently a lion can cover the ground at a speed of 22 metres per second full pelt, a fact that got Jermain mulling over his own turn of speed.
"JD is the most confident person I have ever met in my life and he would think he could out-run anything!" laughed Darren, prompting an explanation of his own athletic prowess.
"I used to do the long jump to a high standard but when my football developed I couldn't do it anymore because of the risk of injury. It was a case of choosing between the two sports and, touch wood, so far I have made the right decision."
The 23-year-old made the decision over the close-season to swap the colours of Charlton for the white of Spurs and, at time of writing, his goal return over the preparation period stands at four goals in as many starts.
He netted three goals out in South Africa, with two coming in the final of the Vodacom Challenge in Pretoria, which was won by a 3-0 margin against Orlando Pirates - the side he also scored against three days earlier in Cape Town. He then followed up with another goal in the 4-2 win at Leyton Orient.
The former Ipswich Town trainee is clearly loving every minute of this new chapter of his career and a part of pre-season spent on a different continent with the squad served to fast-track his settling period on and off the pitch.
"It was good to play in the games in South Africa, I only played in one full one, but played bit parts in the others and was pleased with how it went," he reflected.
"I am happy with my form and feel sharp, the lads have been brilliant and helped me settle in really well so with every game I am playing I am feeling fitter and stronger.
"Every day has brought a different experience and I am really excited about it. It is a massive club and a fantastic opportunity for me, it is one I am relishing and I just can't wait for things to really get started.
"It is always good to pick up silverware and I hope it is a sign of things to come because we have definitely got the squad for it. A lot of people are saying positive stuff about us and it is now up to us to prove them right over the season.
“We can definitely challenge for a top four spot, no question about that. The boys have been knocking on the door for the last two years and I think we can compete for it again. Everyone keeps saying we can finish fourth, but why can't we finish above that?" he quizzed, before adding his expectations come from within and act as a driving force.
"If you don't put pressure on yourself you are always going to underachieve."
Darren has now featured alongside Robbie Keane, Jermain and Dimitar Berbatov over the pre-season programme and he is certainly not daunted by the competition for attacking places, viewing it more as a welcome challenge.
"It has been brilliant, I started off with Keano and he really helped me and I have now also featured with JD and Berba. They are all really good partners to play with. Hopefully I will get the chance to start again before the season starts and it doesn't really matter who with.
"I often played up front on my own for Charlton so hopefully this will make me more dangerous.
"It will be great to have the competition because after a while you can become comfortable. It is a big thing for me and that is one of the reasons I chose Tottenham because if you are not pulling your weight there are three other capable strikers who can keep you out of the team for a long time.
"As a group you can definitely see how we have clicked through the gears now, everyone is really starting to show their fitness. We are all ready for the season and we want it to start even sooner than it is going to."
Darren Bent took time out on safari in South Africa to talk about lions, pace, the long jump and his targets at Spurs...
On a day out on Safari while on tour of South Africa, Jermain Defoe was quick to question the guide over the speed of each individual wild animal in order to assess whether he could out-pace them. Given his athletic background, perhaps the man sitting next to him in the vehicle might have the upper hand in the speed stakes.
Darren Bent reported that he is a 10.5 second man over 100 metres, having been a junior international athlete who specialised in the long jump. It might go some way towards explaining his almost effortless acceleration beyond opposing defences - something he has demonstrated in our colours on a number of occasions over the course of this pre-season.
The safari experience came on the final leg of our South African journey and involved a short-hop flight from Johannesburg. It was an opportunity virtually all of the squad were quick to accept.
"It was brilliant and what a day it was," Darren looked back. “I would never have expected to get so close to the animals. We saw the lions and the elephants really clearly and it was so good," he added, before reflecting on the fact that the three male lions were not looking the liveliest, having not long had a rather sizeable feed.
"You could see by their bellies that were so bloated - they had just eaten!"
Apparently a lion can cover the ground at a speed of 22 metres per second full pelt, a fact that got Jermain mulling over his own turn of speed.
"JD is the most confident person I have ever met in my life and he would think he could out-run anything!" laughed Darren, prompting an explanation of his own athletic prowess.
"I used to do the long jump to a high standard but when my football developed I couldn't do it anymore because of the risk of injury. It was a case of choosing between the two sports and, touch wood, so far I have made the right decision."
The 23-year-old made the decision over the close-season to swap the colours of Charlton for the white of Spurs and, at time of writing, his goal return over the preparation period stands at four goals in as many starts.
He netted three goals out in South Africa, with two coming in the final of the Vodacom Challenge in Pretoria, which was won by a 3-0 margin against Orlando Pirates - the side he also scored against three days earlier in Cape Town. He then followed up with another goal in the 4-2 win at Leyton Orient.
The former Ipswich Town trainee is clearly loving every minute of this new chapter of his career and a part of pre-season spent on a different continent with the squad served to fast-track his settling period on and off the pitch.
"It was good to play in the games in South Africa, I only played in one full one, but played bit parts in the others and was pleased with how it went," he reflected.
"I am happy with my form and feel sharp, the lads have been brilliant and helped me settle in really well so with every game I am playing I am feeling fitter and stronger.
"Every day has brought a different experience and I am really excited about it. It is a massive club and a fantastic opportunity for me, it is one I am relishing and I just can't wait for things to really get started.
"It is always good to pick up silverware and I hope it is a sign of things to come because we have definitely got the squad for it. A lot of people are saying positive stuff about us and it is now up to us to prove them right over the season.
“We can definitely challenge for a top four spot, no question about that. The boys have been knocking on the door for the last two years and I think we can compete for it again. Everyone keeps saying we can finish fourth, but why can't we finish above that?" he quizzed, before adding his expectations come from within and act as a driving force.
"If you don't put pressure on yourself you are always going to underachieve."
Darren has now featured alongside Robbie Keane, Jermain and Dimitar Berbatov over the pre-season programme and he is certainly not daunted by the competition for attacking places, viewing it more as a welcome challenge.
"It has been brilliant, I started off with Keano and he really helped me and I have now also featured with JD and Berba. They are all really good partners to play with. Hopefully I will get the chance to start again before the season starts and it doesn't really matter who with.
"I often played up front on my own for Charlton so hopefully this will make me more dangerous.
"It will be great to have the competition because after a while you can become comfortable. It is a big thing for me and that is one of the reasons I chose Tottenham because if you are not pulling your weight there are three other capable strikers who can keep you out of the team for a long time.
"As a group you can definitely see how we have clicked through the gears now, everyone is really starting to show their fitness. We are all ready for the season and we want it to start even sooner than it is going to."