What does the most competent authority in the field have to say about this matter?
Interview
Name: Frederico Collignon
Home: Belgium
World Rank: 3th
Belgium Rank: 1st
Position: Forward
Main Shot: Front Pin
MP. How did you get started playing foosball?
FC. My father played foosball and we had a foosball table at home, plus I loved to watch competition and I went to tournament
with my father and mother (she played also). It's like this I started playing foosball.
MP. How old were you when you played in your first tournament?
FC. I think my first tournament was in 1987-1988 but I really start playing in competition and tournament in 1991-92.
MP. How popular is foosball in Europe compared with the United States?
FC. It's popular just like in US maybe more. They are a lot different kind of tables, rules and much players have a different
style of playing, only in Belgium they are minimum 3000 players so you can imagine in all Europe, so Foosball is quiet popular
in Europe. You also have little tournaments nearly every week but not so much big tournament because they are so many different
kinds of tables.
MP. On how many different types of foosball tables have you won a tournament?
FC. I will say 10 (Löwen soccer, Bonzini, Garlando, René Pierre,
Black diamond, Jupiter, Stakanit, Soccer 2000, Luxembourg table, and Tornado). I think I forgot 1 of 2 tables but some of
these table are similar like Black diamond and jupiter or Bonzini and René Pierre or Soccer 2000 and Stakanit , .... The difference
between these tables are nearly the same difference between Tornado and Striker. But there are also tables which are quiet
different. The table we play on in Belgium is Jupiter table.
MP. What is your favorite kind of foosball table to play on?
FC. I like all types of tables because the style changes and you can learn new stuff, to learn new style makes Foosball more
interested. Since I came to the US I learned a lot, Todd teach me a lot about American style and Foosball in general, I owe
him a lot. But about your question, I like Tornado because the biggest tournaments are on Tornado. But I really like all
tables (jupiter was my first table) but in fact I think I like foosball in general, it doesn't really matter on which table.
MP. How many tournaments do you usually play in each year?
FC. Small and big tournament together, it has to be between 25 and 50 tournaments in 1 year.
MP. What motivated you to come over to the US to play in our foosball tournaments?
FC. I think it is because you have the World championship and everybody wants to play the worlds, it's the major reason I
came to US. I also like to see new styles, to discover new stuff and to have new challenge. Plus now I have also other reason,
I've good friends in US and I really like to be with them and naturally to play with them.
MP. Was there any part of your game you needed to change, in order to win in the US?
FC. Sure, there were a lot of things I needed to change. The first one is the way to think, especially for the defense (every
kind of defense), the defense is very different in US and in Europe, I had to learn how American players think, Todd help
me a lot with this because he has the knowledge and experience, he told me a lot and he is still helping me. Second point:
from the back I tried ........to learn the pull shot (to clear the ball from the back ) I still try to learn the pull shot.......
not really easy but funny(I think this is suppose to be fun?). There are other points I needed to adapt, many other points
(5 rod,... ).
MP. You and Todd have just been dominating as of late, what is about you two that make you so tough?
FC. I can answer to this question in two words: Todd Loffredo ..... More seriously ..... I think we are both forward with
two different styles, so if one gets in trouble in front we can switch. Plus Todd has experience and he knows every American
player and plus he is a great goalie and forward when we are in trouble he knows what he has to do(in general.............hehehe).
MP. Is the language difference a disadvantage for you and Todd?
FC. I don't think so, I normally can understand what he wants me to do and I think ... he can understand me.
MP. Seems as though there is only about 5 people capable of winning a national tournament, what do the top 5 players have
that the next 10 don't? Skills, strategy, focus etc.
FC. For me experience, knowledge, practice and playing a lot of tournaments are very important. But the difference between
the top 5 and the next 20 is really small, it's only little things. Those little things make the difference, I just want to
say that little thing + little thing + little thing + ...make a difference.
MP. To see how much you have influenced American foosball, you just have to look at all of the players who are now shooting
the front pin. Do you get a sense of pride seeing other players trying to shoot the front pin now?
FC. It looks like people like this shot and want to do it, if people want to do it it's because they think that this shot
works but also because it's something new. It's the same with me I also practice the pull shot and it's also because I like
it and I think it works. So I don't think a kind of shot is better than another. I think the most important is the way you
do the shot, a weak front tow stay a weak front tow and its the same with pull, ... but a good pull or front tow or snake
, ... can always be dangerous. If I'm proud, you know the front tow has been in existence for more than 50 year so way before
I was born......... but its nice to see people trying your shot and I try to help them with this.
MP. I don't know of an American who has won a major tournament in the last 10 years with a front pin, why is your shot so
much better then theirs?
FC. It's because they just start with practicing this shot. But don't
forget that Todd took second at the masters with this shot. Plus it's still not natural for a player who plays for 20 years
a pull or... and change with a front pin. It has to be a rookie who starts playing with a front pin, it will be more natural.
So, to answer to your question, I think the difference is I play the front pin for more than 10 years and nearly nobody in
America has practiced this shot for 2 or 3 years. For example, Todd practiced this shot for 6 months and took second in one
of the biggest tournament and he could win so ...
MP. Has there been a significant change in the types of defenses you're seeing now compared to when you first started shooting
the front pin over here?
FC. Sure, people watch tapes and watch us playing more and more so they adjust their defenses. Plus, more you play against
a player, more he realizes and adjusts again.
MP. Are you having a harder time scoring with the front pin now?
FC. It’s difficult to tell because you have to compare the same match (in 95 and in 2001 for example). Before I had the
advantage people didn't know our shot but now I think I have the advantage I've more option because I play 5 - 6 years on
tornado and European player have more control than 6 years ago. It also depends what you mean with "harder time", take the
example of Todd: nearly nobody let him score a rolling long pull shot but now he can score with a rolling middle or straight
so it's "maybe" harder than a long but the result stays the same, its a point. So "harder" means you have to score with an
other shot more difficult to execute but you score or "harder" means you don't score so well than before? But I want to say
that I think defenses are better now against front pin because of the snake shot.
MP. Excluding Todd and yourself, who is the best player on the American tour?
FC. There are a lot of good players in US (I don't want to mention those player because I'll forget some and it's not fair), but excluding Todd and if you watch all results, for me it is Terry Moore.
MP. Americans are very blessed to have such a great competitor willing to come all the way over here to play in our tournaments.
I hope some day to get to watch you play. Do you have anything else you would like to say?
FC. I hope you understand my English and if there is something, you don't understand, you can always send me a mail for further
information. I really like to come and play in U.S. and we want to thank all American to welcome us so nicely. And I want
to thank Todd for playing with me and teaching me a lot and Ingrid and I want to thank Todd and Lisa to invite us in her home
every year.
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