Nick name
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Antony is Jakarta based, brought up in London, Libyan-born writer who is passionate about his Asian Football, and ArsenalFavourite team/sport
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Antony has lived in Asia for over 15 years, but was born in LibyaProgramme credit
Football Columnist, and once photographed in an Arsenal vs Man. Utd match programme!Time and time again, Singaporean national team coach Radojko Avramovic talked about mental strength as perhaps the most important quality a footballer needs at the highest level. Of course you need pace, tactical awareness, ability, but allied with concentration. The ability to stay focused and read the game.
Singapore failed to qualify for the next round of the World Cup Qualifiers after failing to get past Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, but the Serbian born coach saw much that pleased him.
‘The biggest thing the players take is experience. Playing quality teams, quality players the players learn a lot. But my players, they need to concentrate for the whole 90 minutes because at this level, with these countries, make one mistake and you will be punished. Players must always focus, always concentrate.’
He went on to explain the difficulty in making the step up from the S.League to international football.
‘The game here is quite slow; it should be easy to score. Players play every week in the S.League and they are in a comfort zone. When they make the step up they bring their habits with them. Giving the ball away cheaply…it’s not a lack of ability. It’s a lack of concentration. Mental strength’
He explained the challenge facing Singapore.
‘You see these countries. The top 10 countries in Asia. They regularly play countries from Latin America, Africa, Europe. They are thinking internationally.’
I wanted to know if he felt Singapore was missing out while other countries in South East Asia were hosting major club sides from Europe.
‘If you ask me would I want to play these sides then no. Internationals must play internationals. But of course if I was told that a club side was coming then yes, we would play them because it would be a good experience for the players. But no, it is not my preference.’
With the World Cup dream over for another four years what is keeping the coach busy now?
‘With my team we will analyze every player’s performance during the qualifiers. Their awareness, their discipline. What they did well, what they need to do better. If they performed poorly can they improve? If not then who can replace them?’
After this process it will be time to start preparing for the ASEAN Football Federation Championships in December to be held in Thailand and Indonesia.
Given his comments about wanting to play quality international opposition, Raddy is realistic about his chances with most of the regional leagues in their season. Still, he is hopeful for a ‘couple’ of friendlies.
January sees the start of the Asian Cup Qualifiers and the former Coventry City and Notts County goalkeeper is worried about fatigue among the players. The current S.League season started in February and isn’t due to finish until November. With players then lining up for ASEAN and Asian Cup in quick succession, there could be little down time before the new season starts, probably in February or March.
‘But we must accept the situation, we cannot complain about it. But I hope that in the future the fixture schedule can be better organized. Players are not robots, they must have time off.’
A football coach is never satisfied. There is always more that needs to be done, there is always the next challenge. Raddy has spent five years coaching the national team in Singapore and in that time he has seen them become the premier footballing force in South East Asia.
The target now is the next level. For Singapore to make a mark on the wider Asian scene.
