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Tam Cheong Yan
info@sleague.com
P N Sivaji says that he feels ‘great’ about his return to active coaching after a four-year hiatus – and was quick to declare himself ‘recharged’ and ready for the season ahead.
The pronouncement comes just weeks after he had taken up the reins at Home United, who had finished runners-up in the 2007 edition of the NTUC Income-YEO’S S.League.
Sivaji’s last stint on the touchlines had come in 2003, when he was placed in charge of the Young Lions in their maiden season in the S.League.
And the man who had also previously enjoyed a four-year spell at Balestier Central could barely hide his delight at putting his tracksuit on once more.
“To sum it up in one word, I feel great!” he said with a grin in an interview with sleague.com.
“It’s great to be back on the field, working with the boys on a daily basis. I’ve been missing it and craving for it, and now that I’ve got this opportunity, I want to make the most of it.
“I’m new to this place, and the players and I are feeling each other out at the moment. I know some of the players like S. Subramani and Shahril Ishak, having worked with them before, but others are new to me, so it’s an interesting challenge.
“Home United is a team that, over the past few years, has been synonymous with success, so we need to be successful. I want to see this team play a brand of football that is both good to watch and effective, and we all want to win some honours for the club.”
While Sivaji’s enthusiasm was clearly in abundance, there was some concern over how well he will adapt to recent developments in the professional game, having been largely bound to the office desk in his most recent job as FAS Technical Director.
In that role, his main concentration was to plan and oversee various youth development projects, including the National Football Academy. He was also part of a study group tasked to examine the credentials of foreign teams bidding to join the S.League.
The 56-year-old assured, however, that he had kept himself updated on what was going on, adding that he has learnt new things by viewing the league from a different perspective.
He also spoke favourably of the support he expects to receive from his new employers, particularly such long-serving staff as Subramani and assistant coach J. Surachai.
“Although I’ve been away from the league in a coaching capacity, I’ve been watching the matches and keeping in touch with the league,” he revealed.
“My four years out of the game has been spent getting myself recharged and looking at it from the fans’ side. That has let me come into this job with more information, and I’m looking forward to making use of it.
“True, some of the younger players are new to me, and we have to spend some time feeling each other out. But I’ve got an experienced captain in Mani to help lead the team.
“There is also a good backroom team here with people like Surachai, (Prime League assistant coach) Bernard Lan and (goalkeeper coach) Yusri (Abdul Aziz). They have all stayed from last year, so I don’t think I’ll be found wanting getting back into it.”
Subramani, who had first played under Sivaji in 1990 when the latter was in charge of Singapore’s pre-Olympic squad, was equally certain his mentor is ready for the job at Bishan.
Pointing to the former national coach’s vast experience at the top level, the centre-back believed the Protectors have found an excellent replacement for Vincent Subramaniam, who is now working as a coaching instructor with the AFC.
“There is no doubt about coach Sivaji’s quality, and I’m sure he will guide us well along the season,” stressed Subramani.
“I don’t think lack of recent experience is an issue at all, because he is already a very experienced coach. I wouldn’t see any difference in coaching principles at this point in time.
“Talking to him, I can see that he has been following the local league over the years. In fact, I think his time as FAS Technical Director has seen him gain more knowledge and insights into the game.
“Obviously coach Vincent had his own style, and he did well with what he had. It will be a challenge for any new coach to carry on from there, but I believe coach Sivaji will do well with this team.”
In addition to a new coach, Home have picked up a number of players from various S.League clubs, such as Sengkang Punggol’s Farhan Farook, Geylang United midfielder Syed Fadhil and Gombak United winger Fazli Jaffar.
Peres de Oliveira has also returned to the outfit where he made his name in Singapore, as Ivorian winger Kone Hamed, whose attempt to break into Europe ended in disappointment, eventually returned to Thai champions Chonburi Province FC.
The departure of Hamed and compatriot Diakite Fode Bangaly, who is understood to have plans to go to Belgium, means the Protectors have two open slots out of their foreigner quota of four – and Sivaji has indicated how he would like to fill them.
One spot could go to a goalkeeper should Lionel Lewis, currently attending trials in Switzerland with Grasshoppers, eventually land a move. Otherwise, however, there are no plans for any radical changes, with most of the 2007 squad still wearing red.
“I think Vincent has left a good team behind, and my job is really to consolidate and improve on what we have,” explained Sivaji.
“If you look at the squad, we have retained a good share of last year’s squad, so now it’s a matter of filling in the blanks. We’ve added local players like Farhan and Fazli, who have got tremendous potential, and I hope to see them bloom this year.
“As for new foreigners to replace those who left, I will probably look at using those slots to strengthen the backline. One slot is definitely going towards getting a central defender to partner Mani, and the other hinges on whether Lionel is leaving for Europe.
“If he does, we’ll need a new goalkeeper since Joey (Sim) has left for Sengkang as well. We should know how that is coming along by the third week of the month.”
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