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Stephen
and the Media
www.footie51.co.uk
12 February
2001
An Interview with
Stephen Constantine
When the Swede Sven Goran Erikson
was appointed manager of the English national team,
many saw it as more evidence of how much the standard
of English coaching has fallen. Yet, Britain retains
an important role in helping countries where football
is still developing, with the provision of various
aids including managers. One such coach is Stephen
Constantine, who was appointed national team manager
of Nepal through the work of the Football Association.
At the time of his appointment, Nepal had won just
twice in five years, yet within a couple of months
Constantine led them to the final of the South Asia
Federation Games. Recently appointed to the panel
of instructors by FIFA, Constantine took time out
to talk to Footie 51 about his experiences, thoughts
and hopes of a managerial career back home in England.
Q - What took you to Nepal?
A - I was recommended by the FA. They had
asked if I would be interested in coaching
in Asia to which I replied yes. They in turn recommended me to the AFC who forwarded
my CV to interested parties. Cambodia offered me a position but it fell through
and a few days later Nepal offered me the job.
Q - How would you describe the state of Nepalese football when you
first arrived? What sort of progress has been made during your tenure?
A - Not good would be polite, however I didn't think it was going
to be an easy from the off. Well, the team was struggling in
that they had had several coaches
in the space of 18 months, which of course is a negative factor. Every coach
has his own views and ideas and it does not help the players to keep chopping
and changing. There was a severe lack of confidence as well as team spirit so
they were the two things I wanted to sort our right away. As a team, we won a
silver medal in the South Asian Federation Games, we have opened several Youth
Academies, started up the National League Qualified for the Asian Cup Finals
with the U16 which is the first time any Nepal side has ever qualified for any
Final event, so I would say we have done a great deal in a short period of time.
Q - What is your role within the Nepalese FA? I doubt that you are
just the national team manager.
A - Yes, I am responsible for every aspect from the Senior National
Team to the U16s as well as coach education and what ever crops
up in between. No, not really
.It sound a lot but it is not that bad.
Q - Has language been a problem?
A - Not really. I have leant a little Nepali and the lads understand
a fair bit, besides a good demo is worth a thousand words. I try to do
as much as I with
them though its getting tougher especially when you start playing with the U16!!
Coming home a wreck much to the amusement of my wife Lucy who while she is having
a good laugh reminds me I am 38 not 18!!
Q - How popular is the game in Nepal?
A - Huge kids play in the streets where ever there is a patch of land
here kids are playing footie. I remember as we were coming in to land
when I first arrived
I saw kids playing near the airport and thought great that's what I like to see.
Q - What's the state of the facilities?
A - We have a great set. We have a building where we house the National
Team when they're in camp, and the training pitch is literally on the
doorstep . The
National Stadium is good and we can hold about 30,000 though there must have
been close to 40 when we played in the South Asia Federation Games. It was heaving.
Q - You had a very successful South Asian Federation Games. How did
it feel to lose out in the final?
A - Terrible, as you can imagine. I had players crying their
eyes out all over the place. Personally I was gutted we had done
so well and the fans were unbelievable
throughout and I really wanted to win it for them as much as for me.
Q - It has been highly publicised that you wore a Nepalese national
dress during the semi-final. Why did you decide to take that step?
A - I wanted to do a couple of things. It was the biggest game
in Nepal for many years and I wanted too show them that, although
English, today I was 100% Nepali
and that, if we lost, we all lost. I was not some foreign coach who didn't give
a toss. Secondly I thought that it would inspire them and give us that little
bit more I suppose you could say that by wearing their National Dress. In front
of 40 thousand and millions all over Asia (it went out live to a number of countries
in Asia) that I wanted to get the maximum out of the lads. You must also remember
that no coach ever, not even the Nepalese, had worn their National dress so imagine
the reaction when some English guy decided to wear it at such high stakes match.
We won 2-1 so I think it worked. They had lost twice to the Maldives about 2
months before I arrived.
Q - You also received the Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Baahu Medal by King
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. What's the significance of this award and
how did it feel to receive it?
A - The significance, well being the first foreign football coach,
it being the highest honor a foreigner can be awarded. It meant
and will always mean the world
to me. I am so proud and extremely grateful to have been honored in this way.
Q - Population wise, Nepal isn't one of the largest countries in Asia
but have achieved a certain degree of success. Should the limitation
with respect to population also limit the aspirations of how much can
be achieved by small countries like Malta and San Marino?
A - Yes, that's a good point. Though the big sides in Asia are
miles ahead of the little countries, but if you play with other
countries within your own capacities
(SAFG is regional) then things are a little brighter. Unfortunately the Malta's
of the world are never going to get to the level of the Dutch, Germans or say
the Italians. It is just not possible. But if they can start to get players playing
in other leagues then obviously the standard will improve. If it were up top
me I would organize a separate International tournament say every 2-3 years where
the countries with say 3 million or lower only could participate that way there
is more of a chance for someone else to have a little success. I mean when are
Cyprus, Malta, Israel, Andorra say going to make it to a Euro or World Cup? Its
an idea.
Q - Its been written that you lost the post at a Cypriot First Division
club because the club president felt you couldn't influence referees.
Is this true?
A - Yes it is and that's all I will say on that one.
Q - You've stated that you'd now like to manage in the English
game. How have
your applications been received?
A - Not well I suppose is a good answer. Mostly the teams do
not even acknowledge. I have had the reason well there were so
many applicants, which is a point I
suppose but still it wouldn't hurt.
Q - Has any club chairman ever given you any explanation as to why
you haven't been chosen for the job?
A - Not yet, though in a recent article in the Four Four Two magazine,
the Chairman of Bradford cited that coaches come from 3 categories, within
the club, a big
name player, or a big name Manager. It's his club I suppose
Q - Do you think that you have been hindered
by the fact that you didn't play football at league level?
A - Most definitely but let's clarify something. I did play,
though not in England. The standard of the American Soccer League
would have been second division. Top
class no I didn't play, but neither did Arsene Wenger, Craig Brown , Gerard Houillier,
Sir Alex Ferguson and plenty more. While were on the subject lets look at the
big names that won everything Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, Kevin Keegan and the
list goes on John Barnes, Chris Waddle, Ray Wilkins and on and on.
Q - Did you come across any former league players during your coaching
courses? How did they view such courses?
A - Good question yes I did all of my Badges with the pros, I
think most of them were receptive to the FA s coaching scheme
you can always learn from some else.
Q - Most chairmen prefer managers to either have some experience
in the youth sector or have at least been an assistant to another
manager.
Would you accept such a secondary role as a stepping-stone?
A - That would depend on the club its ambitions and the role
they wanted me to play, Youth teams in my opinion is a major
role it is the youth Coaches who provide
the Managers with the tools to achieve success or not. There position is underrated
if you ask me. Yes if a Manager I thought I could learn from offered me such
a position then I would accept it.
Q - Do you think you would have problems with
players who might be sceptical of you due to your lack of playing experience?
A - I am sure in the beginning there would be a few players saying
well where did he play? Which is quite funny really as I don't
remember Arsene Wenger or
Sir Alex Ferguson kicking a ball when there respective teams did well. Nor do
I recall a single Italian player ask Arricho Sacchi where did he play and for
the record he didn't. So I think that is a really piss poor attitude for a player
to take. The thing they should be thinking is will this manager help me become
a better player, can he motivate me, does he understand me, not can he play?
he isn't going to come Saturday is he!!!!
Q - What do you think you have to offer more
than your average English manager? Or, at least, what would you do differently?
A - Great question, what time do we play every Saturday?? Generally
its 3pm so why don't we train at that time ? that would be the
first thing. Why are we training
once for two and half hours? The game is 90 mins, so training should be 90 mins
without the stretching and cool downs. Of course take in to account the travel
and the weather but the main idea is to be at optimum level for a long period
of time. I have Managed at all levels on three continents and think I have done
well enough to deserve a chance in my own country. The experience I have gained
cant be bought and would be an asset to any club in my humble opinion.
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Copyright © 2008 Stephen
Constantine All Rights Reserved |
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