Hayden Meikle: How are you getting on?
Thomas Makea: Yeah, good, good.
HM: Where are you at the moment?
TM: Just at home for a little bit. We've had a 10-day camp and now I've got a day and a-bit off.
HM: Where's home? Hawkes Bay?
TM: Wellington now. I'm a Hawkes Bay man but I live here now.
HM: Does it feel like the calm before the storm, with the world championships just around the corner?
TM: It's getting closer. We're all getting quite eager, I guess. The boys have been talking about what lies ahead.
HM: Has your preparation been quite game-specific or have you just been generally getting ready for the tournament?
TM: We've been doing a lot of hard work and we've played in two tournaments. The next week is really about understanding what we want to do and building ourselves into a team.
HM: Good feeling? The guys coming together well?
TM: Yeah. We were very disappointed with losing a couple of games at those tournaments. But the feeling in the squad is definitely very positive. We're pretty focused on what we want to achieve.
HM: The Black Sox got beaten at the last world championships, in 2009. Does that provide extra motivation this time?
TM: We've never really been in that situation, you know. We're normally the defending champions. I guess there's some pressure there. And there will be huge expectations on us because we're playing at home. We've talked about that because playing in front of friends and family is going to be huge.
HM: Are you a better team now than you were four years ago?
TM: Oh yeah. Absolutely. Yep, for sure. We understand the game better. Over the last 10 to 12 years we've really tried to play a complete game of softball. That's what we're after every time.
HM: Pitching is obviously hugely important. How are the Black Sox hurlers looking?
TM: Not too bad. They've still got a lot to work on before the tournament starts
HM: Mark Sorenson has gone but you and Jarrad Martin and company are still going strong. How old are you now? Have you blown out 40 candles?
TM: Hah, not quite. Couple of years off.
HM: Jarrad's the oldest?
TM: He is, yeah.
HM: This is your fifth world championships. Pretty impressive.
TM: Yeah, No 5. I wasn't too happy after No 4. I think I committed to another campaign the next day. It's been a long four years but I've certainly enjoyed it.
HM: Is it easy to stay fit and enthusiastic after all this time?
TM: I've never found it a problem. The goal to win the world title back has been very strong. And there are a lot of young guys pushing me, not only in the New Zealand team but also in my club team.
HM: Who do you play your club softball for?
TM: PK. Poneke-Kilbirnie.
HM: Do the older blokes in the Black Sox hang out together?
TM: We've got a leadership group. There's probably half a dozen of us experienced guys. The whole team's pretty tight. We help each other out. But yeah, the older guys are there to provide direction and to lead the way.
HM: How does your coach, Eddie Kohlhase, compare with Don Tricker, the previous coach?
TM: Each to their own. Don was more of a schoolteacher type. Eddie has been around the game a long time and really understands it. He coaches like he used to play, which suits my style. Very aggressive.
HM: Will this be your last tournament for the Black Sox?
TM: I'm not making that decision yet. The world champs is going to come around every two years now. That's a pretty quick turnaround. We'll see what happens.
HM: Do you do some coaching as well as playing?
TM: I've been player-coach for our premier men for a few years now. And I've had the Wellington under-15s for the last three years. It's nice to pass on some of the stuff I've learned playing all around the world.
HM: You've played overseas a bit?
TM: Yeah, I've actually done about 14 seasons in North America. For all sorts of teams. It's been a lot of fun. I get two summers every year, which is pretty nice.
HM: The whole softball v baseball thing is getting interesting in New Zealand. Did you ever look at baseball?
TM: No. No. I'm a very staunch softball man. I like watching baseball. I like watching the Yankees and the White Sox. But playing it never interested me, and I'm probably too old for it now anyway.
HM: Is there a chance baseball, if it gets bigger here, could really damage softball?
TM: I guess we'll see what happens over the next few years. There's been some talk of creating some sort of diamond sport. I don't know.
HM: Softball doesn't get the attention or the resources showered on rugby and cricket and things. Has that ever got frustrating?
TM: Oh, it is what it is. It's never really fazed us. Of course we'd like more funding. But we've won a few gold medals and nobody can take those away.
HM: Are you from a softball family?
TM: Yeah, my parents both played. Dad's a long-serving coach up in the Hawkes Bay. He's also done some coaching down in the Hutt Valley.
HM: How many kids have you got yourself?
TM: Three boys. I've got a 15-year-old who actually plays in my premier team. A 13-year-old who's not too far away. And a 2-year-old who is just starting to pick up a bat.
HM: You've been one of the most explosive batters in the game. Can those 38-year-old arms still hit the ball a long way or are you having to be a bit more subtle?
TM: Hah hah. I guess the mind is always thinking about hitting the ball long. But for me, it's always been about making good contact. The home runs will come if you do that good enough.
HM: Are you thinking about moving in from the outfield?
TM: No. I think they leave you in the outfield and from there it's straight to the sidelines. I've still got a little bit of speed left. I'm pretty happy with my form.
HM: So, if not the Black Sox, who could win the world championships?
TM: There's a few, actually. Obviously Australia, the defending champions, are right up there. Canada and Japan are strong. One or two South American countries could turn a few eyes. Venezuela. Argentina will be tough. I think they won the junior worlds last year.
HM: Confident?
TM: Oh yeah. We'll be well prepared and we'll be throwing everything we've got at it.
