JOEL PIROE has revealed he gets tips on how to score goals and wreak havoc up front with Swansea from a leading expert… his GIRLFRIEND.
Piroe’s better half Naomi Pattiwael happens to be a striker herself – playing for the PSV Eindhoven women’s team.
And it has certainly paid dividends for the Swansea ace, who has now netted 10 goals in 14 starts.
The couple met while they were both coming through the youth ranks at PSV.
Piroe told SunSport: “We went to the same school doing our education together while we were at PSG.
“The two of us train together in the summer to get ready for the new season.
“We’re always giving each other advice. We watch each other’s games and she will often ask me why I made a particular decision and how maybe I could’ve done something better.
“The two of us are always talking about football because Naomi knows about it very well. She is a great player and it’s a good thing that we can help each other.”
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But one man who helped Piroe more than any other was someone else who knows a thing or two about scoring goals – Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
The Dutch master is manager of PSV’s reserve side.
Piroe said: “He helped me a lot. Of course, he has so much experience at the very highest level – and always try to see the same situations as him when I’m playing a game.
“I always think about what he would do.
“He really helped me make quick decisions and understand the importance of being in the right place at the right time to score.
“Ruud was so deadly but he wasn’t a striker who just stood there – he used to move around very well to get into the right positions to finish coolly.
“He advised me on a lot of things but the most valuable was how to take penalties. He had a good method for it.
“The art of taking a good penalty is having confidence. You never know what pressure will be on the kick so you just need to have a clear head and confidence in what you want to do.
“If you do that, I don’t think any keeper will be able to save it.
“I’m of course not at the same level right now as Ruud Van Nistelrooy but I hope to be at that level in the future.”
Piroe was confident he could do the business in British football when he moved to South Wales in the summer – but even he did not anticipate hitting the ground running as well as he has done.
The Dutchman said: “It couldn’t have gone much better. I’ve settled quickly. It’s been a wonderful start to my career in the UK.
“I was always confident I’d do well here. I felt as though I was well prepared although I didn’t expect to score as many goals as I have done and the start I’ve had.
“Scoring on my debut helped and my team-mates and coaching staff here have helped me so much.”
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While he is enjoying his football, Piroe has found living alone in South Wales the biggest challenge – as he now has to cook, clean and iron himself!
And the striker revealed he hates cooking.
He said: “My mum used to do all that stuff but now I’ve had to learn to do all this myself.
“I don’t like cooking. I just feel it’s a waste of time for me.
“Most of the time I roast chicken in the oven and make myself some rice with different spices.
“But cooking is so time consuming. If I cook for over half an hour or an hour, it seems a lot of work when you eat it in less than 15 minutes!
“Obviously I can’t order takeaways because they are not healthy but the chef at Swansea does box some food up for me to take home, which is great.”
Piroe will have to wait to add to his impressive scoring tally after Swansea’s game against QPR this weekend was called off after a Covid outbreak in the Londoners’ camp.
The Swans were hoping to end a three-match losing streak that has seen them slip away from the play-off contenders.
Piroe said: “We’ve been making too many unforced errors – especially when we get a bit tired.
“That is the main thing we’ve got to improve and focus on.
“It does become an issue when you’re playing three games a week. It consumes a lot from you but we’ve got to find a way to stay switched on.
“I believe this team can break into the play-off places. We have everything to make it possible.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
