WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2008-04-27 Time: 00:00:00 Posted By: Jan
By Lara de Matos
“You are the first South African journalist I’ve granted an interview to, but I can tell you that once I get to your country I want to work before I go around doing press conferences.
“Then the people can judge me, once they’ve seen what I can do.”
New Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana wants the South African public to suspend judgment on him until “they’ve seen what I can do”. A number of stories have appeared in local newspapers questioning whether he really is the right man for the job.
| ‘My promise is not just contractual’ |
Santana succeeds Carlos Parreira, who has resigned last week.
Among the concerns of the doubters is that Santana has been fired from four clubs in the space of two years, and has never coached at World Cup level.
Then there is the fact that his English language skills, or lack of them, would most likely be a great obstacle in communicating with the players.
But, in an exclusive interview – after our photographer and I managed to manoeuvre our way past the security detail at his Flamengo Club home ground and corner him – Santana said he did not get the job as a friendly gesture from fellow Brazilian Parreira.
Parreira, he said, would not call on “any old person” to replace him and continue the work he started.
“You don’t get invited to coach and prepare a team for the World Cup because you’re someone’s friend,” he said. “You either are, or you’re not, capable and competent to do the job.
“No one gets as much work and manages to secure four league championships, as I have done here in Rio, simply because of who you know. That was achieved through hard work, with great regard for and by the players and, above all, with discipline.”
And one need only observe the reaction he receives from superiors, peers and players alike to know that Santana is a highly praised and respected figure in the Brazilian football scene.
Despite his burly, pockmarked appearance, Santana proved to be surprisingly soft-spoken and self-contained, preferring to create an atmosphere of relaxed, albeit rigorous, camaraderie during training, as opposed to the boot-camp approach usually favoured by those in his position.
It’s the same ethos he intends to apply when he takes over as coach of the South African national soccer team.
He has already put a plan in place – based on Parreira’s analysis of each player’s strengths and weaknesses – that’s designed to maximise the team’s technical, physical “and, most importantly” psychological skills.
But Santana’s aim is to ensure that the players enjoy themselves “because that’s when they do well”.
As for any concerns that he might “pull a Parreira” after some months and back out of his contract with the 2010 World Cup knocking on Bafana Bafana’s door, Santana is solemn in his assurances.
“My promise is not just contractual but moral.
“I go [to South Africa] with an open heart and with the intention of ensuring that South Africa does well at the World Cup – and they will.
“I’ll do it using what I’ve learnt over my almost 60 years on this planet … with lots of enthusiasm and discipline, and always with honesty.”