Michael Olarewaju – Beast Mode: Activated

Michael Olarewaju speaks to Gareth Morgan about the squad’s ambitions as expectation levels rise.

When fitness and strengthening coach Neil Withington told the players he was taking their fitness programme up a level on the first day of pre-season training, it was music to the ears of Michael Olarewaju.

After a post-season holiday, the popular defender put pen to paper on a new contract to keep him at the Club for 25/26, last week.

A conversation with manager Ady Pennock was all that was needed to ensure their ambitions for the team were aligned.

And as the squad builds for the season opener in August, Michael can already see a steely determination and positive mentality running through the changing room – and admits there’s ‘unfinished business’ to take care of.

He said: “At the first training session Neil said he was taking the fitness and training up a level and that we would have to be absolute beasts. I was licking my lips, to be honest, I loved it. I’m ready for that.

“The Gaffer has set the standards, but the expectations are going to be higher. And that’s exactly what the squad wants to hear.”

Michael had several offers to move on in the close-season, but his relationship with Ady and understanding of where he wants to take the team, were among the major factors in his decision to stay.

He continued: “The Gaffer is a massive part of me staying at Dartford. I believe in him. I believe in the culture he created last season, and I know the culture he will be able to create again this year. For me, it just feels like there’s unfinished business at Dartford, following on from what we did last season, and knowing that we’ve got to take it one step further this year. 

“I’ve had conversations with him about how he’s going to do that and he gave me a peace of mind to recognise we will have a team with the mindset of we’re going one step further.

“It’s very exciting. I was in the first training session last week doing the testing and a little bit of fitness work and was saying the whole energy is really positive, and there’s already a family-feel in the dressing room.”

Another factor in Michael’s decision to stay was the rapport with fans and the feeling that the Club is going in the right direction.

He said: “I loved last season. Ady got me through the door, but once through the door, from the Chairman and Directors, through to the guy who looks after the pitch, and the fans, it’s been a great experience. 

“But I think it’s a joint effort. It’s not just the staff and the players that are playing on the pitch. It’s everyone. I felt the environment was amazing. 

“My son’s not quite walking yet, but my daughter would run around and my wife felt safe enough to leave my daughter in the hands of various members of staff. So yes, it’s just lovely having a family environment. And I felt like my family became part of that family. 

“And the fans are amazing. You come into the stadium and you realise Dartford is a brilliant club. I try to say ‘hello’ to as many as I can, but sometimes there isn’t time, there are just too many!”

Like the fans, Michael’s own excitement levels have ramped up with the addition of a number of new players.

He continued: “The players that have come in, look quality. I’m quite confident we can cause havoc.

“I think that competition is necessary. There were times last season we didn’t play well, but maybe we didn’t have the depth of players we would have liked to change that. 

“It’ll do us all good to have that bit where we look over our shoulder and we think, someone could have rightly started over me. It keeps those intensity levels really high.”

And for Michael, now that Neil and Ady have activated ‘beast mode’, what’s his final thoughts on what lies ahead?

He added: “After that first training session, I went home buzzing. I told my wife how good it was and that I knew I had made the right decision to stay. 

“Pre-season will be tough, but we are up for it. The season will be tougher than last year, but we are going to be training harder, so we are ready.

“The squad is looking good and strong and there will be a couple of other additions, I’m sure. 

“It’s a project that I genuinely believe in and want to be a part of. I wanted to believe that this was a team that can go one step further and I believe that. I’m really excited to get going again already!”

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