William Gallas and James Ennis discuss life as WA summer sport's marquee men WA summer sport's two marquee men - James Ennis (Wildcats) and William Gallas (Glory) - are enjoying life in Perth. AS recently as last winter, neither William Gallas nor James Ennis had ever been to Australia. Now, they're the two marquee men of WA's sporting summer, looking to lead their respective clubs - the Glory and the Wildcats - to the promised land. Though at the opposite ends of their international careers, Gallas and Ennis share the common bond of being able to thrill fans both here and abroad with their exploits on the sporting stage. The superstar signings sat down with Chris Robinson to discuss WA's weather, flies, the pressure of being 'big name' athletes and their expectations for the rest of the summer. CHRIS ROBINSON: Firstly - did you realise it was going to be this hot out here? It's nothing like London. But I like it. When I wake up in the morning I've got a smile on my face, because I've got the sunshine, and the sunshine is very important. I lived in London for maybe 12 years, and every morning, it was raining, cold, and sometimes I was depressed. So now, it's a good change. JAMES ENNIS: I come from California, but this is a different kind of weather. I think it's Vegas weather, and I really don't like the heat. I like cold better than hot, but I'm enjoying it so far. It's beautiful - you can just come to the beach and relax. CR: What did you expect coming to Perth - did you know much about Australia? JE: I didn't really know much coming out here. Just kangaroos. I heard there were wild kangaroos and I thought 'OK, that's something new'. I really thought they were going to be hopping everywhere - in your backyard, and in the street. WG: I'd never been to Australia, so it was a big change for me. But I really like it. Every day when I'm walking on the beach, people come to speak to me, to see how I am and if I find Perth nice. It's more relaxed here - it's not busy like London. CR: Are you surprised at how many people recognise you out here? WG: I am, but I realise a lot of people like soccer. I've met so many fans who support Chelsea or Arsenal, who want to know what I think about the teams, and if I still follow the English Premier League. CR: Do you still follow the Premier League pretty closely? And James - do you keep tabs on the NBA? WG: Sometimes, when I'm not too tired, because here they show the games around 1 in the morning and at this time I'm sleeping because it's the day after I've been on the pitch. JE: I follow the NBA little bit - I look at the stats - but I really try to focus on what's going on around me, so I'm just trying to get better and get wins. CR: Where are you living while in Perth? WG: I live in Cottesloe, and I come down to the beach every morning for a walk, just to relax for 10 or 15 minutes before I go to training, and to thank God about the life I have because I'm very blessed. JE: I'm in Scarborough, so that's another really good beach. It's great up there. CR: Are you worried about sharks at all? JE: I'm kind of afraid of sharks because I've heard they come really close. So I try to stay out of the water because that's not my cup of tea. CR: How does Perth compare to other places you've been around the world? JE: It's unique. Everybody is just so nice out here compared to California. They honk at you in LA traffic, but over here, they don't honk as much. But I actually did get flipped off in about the second week I was here because I cut someone off because of my driving from California and I was new on the roads here. CR: What's the strangest thing you've come across in Australia so far? JE: When I held a koala. I've never had a hold of something like that in my life. It felt nasty. I just felt weird about it. WG: The flies have been tough. The first day I came, they were really bad. Lots of them were on my face and I was so upset. I checked with my agent and I was like, 'Come on - I can't stay here. I can't play' (laughs). But after that, it's been okay. I'm still upset if they come near my mouth. JE: Yeah. Sometimes it feels like I'm Africa, where you see on TV that there are so many flies around. It can be a bit irritating. CR: Is the standard of your respective leagues here - the NBL and the A-League - what you were expecting? JE: Coming from college, yeah. It's just everybody competing at a high level and trying to get better each day. Out here, it's not as athletic, but there are smarter players and they shoot the ball a lot better. I really try and use that (athleticism) to my advantage - my speed, my jumping ability - to score, rebound and block shots. WG: The A-League is not the same level as in England, but I was a little bit surprised about the high intensity of the game. There are some quality players and anything can happen. It's great for the league to be bringing in more experienced players, which will help the young players improve even more. CR: William, you must be desperate to get back having not been out on the pitch as often as you would have liked? WG: I'm very focused about what I have to do. I've had my fitness coach come over from France, so I've worked very hard with him, and I feel like I'm back to my level. I'll be more happy when I get back to playing 90 minutes. I think it will be maybe one more week. (Today) I think I'll play around 70-75 minutes, and then the next game I will play 90 if everything is okay. CR: How confident are you that you've got plenty more good football left in you this season? WG: I'm very confident. I'm almost 37 but I know I can give more. I still love football - that is my passion - so whenever I'm on the pitch I will give everything, like I did in London. CR: From what you've seen of Perth and the club, would you like to stay another year? WG: Yeah, why not? The Glory has a good opportunity to return to success, because I know a long time ago they used to be one of the biggest clubs in Australia. So it will be nice if I can help them with my experience. We've got some young quality players, so it will be important to keep them to build that team. CR: Could you see yourself settling here after your career is finished? WG: You never know. I know I've got maybe two more years to play football and then I will retire, so at the moment, my mind is just to be on the pitch and to give everything I can. CR: Your kids came over recently - how did they find WA? WG: They came over for Christmas and New Year and they just loved it - the sunshine, the heat, and they were on holiday as well. I know it was really difficult for them to go back to London. My oldest son tells me all the time, 'Dad, I want to come back to Perth'. But I know he has to go to school. CR: James, are you assured of seeing out the NBL season with the Wildcats now? JE: I don't know for sure, but I think I'll be here for the rest of the season and then get ready for next Summer League (in the US) so I can showcase my talent and show all the things I've improved by coming over here. CR: Do you feel coming here has been beneficial for your development? JE: Oh yeah. The coaching staff really care about you - on and off the court - over here. I put a lot of work in every day to try and improve, and we've got great leaders like Shawn Redhage, Damian Martin and Greg Hire, so I just try and soak in everything they have to say. CR: How much contact have you had with the Miami Heat since you've been here about your progress? JE: It's mostly my agent who keeps in touch with them, and Adam (Tatalovich) on the coaching staff. They see how my handling's coming along, my maturity level on the court, and everything. CR: Being the marquee men, have you felt pressure from the club and the fans? JE: There's always pressure, because I got drafted last year so they expect a lot coming from me. I just do the best I can. I pray before the game and give it my all every time I step on the floor and try and help my team get a win. But basketball is fun. I love it and I'm glad it's my occupation. You never know what's going to happen the next day, so I live each and every day like it's my last and just enjoy it. WG: To be a marquee player, you definitely have some pressure on your shoulders. But I don't really feel it. I just have to do what I have to do on the pitch to show everyone my experience. When we're training, it needs to be like the game, so I need to show (my teammates) how to train so we can produce it on the pitch. CR: Have you been homesick at any stage? JE: I was a little homesick in the beginning, but I've started getting used to it. I've got good teammates around me and everyone really made me feel like I was home. When I went back (to the US) for my break, it was like a tease, because I was there for like a week-and-a-half. I was thinking 'I miss this', but that's the job. CR: James, you've produced plenty of highlights so far. What more do you have planned? JE: I've always got tricks up my sleeve. Next fast break I get on, I'll probably try and do a 360 (dunk). Hopefully I get it. CR: Are you interested in each other's sports and would you go and see a game? JE: I love soccer because I play a lot of FIFA 14 on X Box. I went to one of the Glory's games and they lost in the last minutes. And I've seen you (Gallas) almost score a bicycle kick goal and I was like 'Man, you've got skills'. WG: I had the opportunity to go to Miami (Ennis' NBA team) last year to watch a playoff game. I haven't had enough time yet to go to watch James here, but I would like to. Someone told me the atmosphere is great - there's almost 11,000 people - so when I have time I will go. I've seen James on TV and I know he likes to dunk. CR: Do you think you might get back to Miami next year and hopefully watch James play for the Heat? WG: I hope so, yes. I don't know what he wants to do, but if he has the opportunity to go back to America and play in the NBA, it would be great for him, because it's the biggest (basketball) league in the world.