Stephen and the Media

Grimsby Evening Telegraph

Friday, June 15, 2001

Former Nepal national soccer team coach Steven Constantine took time out from his quest for a managerial post in England to put West Lindsey Juniors Under 15s through their paces in a training session.

Constantine (38), who applied for the vacant Wigan managerial position, honoured a promise to John Stevenson, the Caistor-area team's manager, to visit the club.

He held a two-and-a-half-hour masterclass on Saturday and gave out awards at the club's presentation ceremony at the King's Head, Keelby, on the Sunday.

Stevenson got in touch with Constantine via e-mail while the club were planning a trip to a football tournament in the country.

"They are going to Nepal in August through the Nepal Football Fan Club and they got in touch with me over the Internet.

"I'm not doing anything at the moment so I was happy to take the opportunity to come here," Constantine said.

Prior to the Nepal role, the former Millwall and Chelsea youth team player had played and coached in America for New York Freedoms FC and also coached in Cyprus.

He became a national hero in the Asian country during his spell as the national coach from 1999 to April this year.

He lead the team to victory in their first ever World Cup game and, despite failing to qualify for the competition, he went on to take the team to a superb runners-up position and the silver medal in the South Asian Games – the equivalent of the European Championships for the region.

"I was recommended by the FA to the Asian Football Confederation who took 100 CVs and from there I was fortunate enough to get the Nepal job," Constantine said.

"The team was in disarray when I went there – they'd had four or five coaches in two years, all with different ideas, and it was difficult for the players to trust the coaches if five minutes later they were gone.

"After we won the silver medal, the reception was unbelievable. They are very good people when you do well – the same as anywhere."

Unfortunately Constantine found himself with no option but to resign his post in April when the country's FA split into two.

"The Government came down on one side and FIFA on the other – as I am FIFA affiliated the job became untenable.

"It was a huge disappointment – I'd worked very hard and was even decorated by the King."

The recent troubles and instability in Nepal, following the Crown Prince gunning down his parents, the King and Queen, and other members of his family and guests at a dinner, have horrified Constantine.

"I was shocked – I had met the Crown Prince about half a dozen times and even played football with him.

"My heart goes out to the people in Nepal," he said.

Despite the troubles, a West Lindsey Juniors party of around 40 are still on course for the trip and Constantine has reassured them that things will be fine.

"It will be no problem for them – there will be no trouble.

"It will be an amazing experience for some of the lads – generally in Europe we take things for granted.

"When they come back the lads will realize just how lucky they are."

London-born Constantine, currently living with his family in Brighton, has set his heart on a plum job in the English game.

"I've been back in the country three weeks and I'm looking for a managerial position here – I hear that the Southampton job is vacant," he joked.

"I applied for the Wigan job and had a chat on the web with fans – the support was phenomenal. But I'm realistic – I know it isn't going to be easy and I may have to go into the Conference.

"I have turned down several jobs abroad because I want to do it here – I am interested in everything, but something has to be put on the table."

Constantine was pleased with the efforts put in by the West Lindsey squad.

" I was concentrating on passing and movement and I thought that at the end of the session they were improving. "

" It was good to see that they were taking on board what I was saying – they did well," he said

Back to Media