Lost Interviews: BSL

Throughout the year there have been many interviews conducted in which we simply haven't had time to put up. This series explores those interviews. Due to the delay in time certain questions and answers in the interviews may no longer be relevant, but for the most part they are.

The first in the series is an interview with General Manager of the Berlin Allianz Jonas "bsl" Alsaker Vikan, this interview was conducted on the 24th of July, 2008.

You've come third/fourth for the second time, what's holding you back, the talent pool, lack of a regular season, lack of preparation, motivation?

We have been on top of our region for two consecutive CGS seasons, as well as having made it into the top 4 twice in two attempts taking home 150 000 USD in prize money for the team in 8 months since December 2007. It's consistent and that's the good news to weigh up for the phrasing of the question which really illustrate how I feel after "another" third/fourth placing - we were supposed to go further, and evolve this season and in many regards we did (Forza / DoA Female for instance) but at the same time some of our other divisions could not push the envelope and deliver better results this time around - that killed us.

If you look at it that way, and I do, a third and fourth place finish again means nothing else than falling short and failing to reach the goal for `08 which was the final game of the World Final.

You took a huge gamble by mixing Swedish and Dutch players in a single roster, the gamble hasn't paid off, what didn't go right?

We put the players on a rigorous training schedule and one that might have been the most demanding in all of CGS. The players showed up to each and every practice to work and that's to their credit even when things did not go well for them in official matches.

If you ask me it came down to an inability to find chemistry and gel together. Back in the "normal" world of esports a team would usually dismiss players on these grounds to opt for someone that could "fit in better." However, in a CGS environment this, ensuring the team can find their collective "mojo", is a responsibility I charge the five individuals on the team with. With two months worth of time and exactly five weeks spent training and living together in a this environment the odds were on their side if handled correctly but they could not find it together and came up short - that spilled over into every practice sessions and translated into bad results. That said:

The responsibility for picking this team - where it was decided that mixing nationalities was the optimal way for us to get the individual skills we needed with the talent pool that was available at the draft - rests with me alone - and there are limits to which you can expect young competitors to go to "find their way together" in the time frame we had - unfortunatly.

Next year will you go back to a one nationality roster in source?

You honestly expect me to know what I will do x amount of months down the line at a draft where I don't have the faintest idea who will show up? The only thing that's certain here is that we will have a team that can produce better results next year for Source.

The rest of your franchise has performed remarkably well this year, do you think if you can fix source you'll be a contender for the title next year?

Like last year, where other parts of our team was the issue: We have to improve those that performed well - and RADICALLY improve those that did not.

What motto do you strive to imprint into your players minds?

The motto for our TEAM is Never Alone - Nie Alleine which should encapsulate what it means to be in this team. Performance-wise I try and tell young competitors that the way to be successful is paved with SOME talent, a helluva lot of extremely hard, motivated and dedicated work and the desire to improve each hour of every day spent working.

With your franchise player, David Olander, not having the greatest world finals, do you keep him as the team's talisman or look elsewhere?

You are right. He did not have his best games individually. However:

The interpitation of a franchise player might be different from team to team. For some it means having the person that brings in the highest amount of + points for the team at any given time.

For us it means having someone that take extra responsibility, both in and outside of the game as well as handling themselves with the utmost professionalism when "on the job." Out of all five CS:S gamers David was the one that spent the most amount of time working on his PERSONAL game as well as contributing as he always in the way described above - it is hard to ask for more than that knowing that individual performances will always vary.

His role is though subject to the same off season evaluation as everyone else in the team.

Are you happy with 3rd/4th?

No.

Can Stockholm recover and rebuild?

I am not sure I agree with the premise for this question - which is that they failed. Look to the results:

They came within an INCH of beating us this year - AGAIN. We've beaten them with 3 points over two games and finished top 4 in the world.

If they remember how close they've come and continue to improve I am sure that they will be a force to be reckoned with in 2009 as well as in the 07 and 08 season.

You've got one of the most dominant fifa players in the world, what makes him so much more special than the rest of the world, how would you rate him against fifa players outside the CGS? For instance the SK brothers.

The FIFA brothers have phenomenal results outside the CGS. I do not presume to know how they would fare in this environment but I can say it is totally different and potentially harder to perform on that stage. As for «Manyna» he is talented, works hard, is goal oriented and driven to never give anyone an inch.

I am happy to see him succeed and CONTINUE to be undefeated as the only player in the Championship Gaming Series. It is indeed a travesty that he has not been properly recognized in Europe or nominated for any awards.

What do you do in the long off-season?

I evaluate and scheme to take over the world of competitive CGS gaming.

How strictly do you enforce a practice regime in players now that the world finals are over, or is it more a case of "prove yourself" and be drafted?

It is a case of work your ass off and prove you are a better, stronger, more motivated competitor if you want to be on my team next year situation.

Thanks for your time.