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The Shouting Men with Gillingham defender Gabriel Zakuani

Our defensive record isn't bad at all and I'm glad that I have been able to add my experience this season.

The first thing I was told when the club showed their interest in me was that they wanted me to come in and shore up the defence. It had been the same when I was at Northampton last season.

Gillingham's Gabriel Zakuani Picture: Ady Kerry
Gillingham's Gabriel Zakuani Picture: Ady Kerry

I am pretty glad with the way things have gone and even when we were on the bad run at the start of the season we weren't conceding too many goals. It has been a very good season defensively for Gillingham and the record speaks for itself.

We have all done our jobs, everybody has played their part.

When I came into the club there was more talk of things outside of football but now it is all about the football and I believe the club is on the right path. We have a happy changing room, everyone is friends and the jokes are going around every day. The whole mood around the place is very positive.

There was a project here to build this year and we have done that. I have enjoyed every minute of it and when the time is right we can sit down and sort out what is happening going forward.

I would like to think I have a few more years left in me. I keep myself fit and the manager knows how to manage me, which is what I like about him, he gives me days off here and there to make sure I am right for the games. I believe that if I perform for him he will look after me.

For most of the season I have been playing alongside Max Ehmer and we have a great relationship on and off the pitch.

We travel in together every day and it helps when you have a friendship as well and the relationship goes from outside of the pitch onto it. We complement each other's game very well. I'll probably do more of the no-nonsense kind of stuff and he can clean up and play a bit more football. I do all the jobs he hates!

I know my role and he knows his and we know each other's limitations.

More from the defender in this week's Medway Messenger, including why he turned down the chance to play international football last week.

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