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I-League: Phillipe De Ridder On His Second Stint With East Bengal
Goal.com caught up with East Bengal's Belgian Coach...
25-Nov-2009 12:43:26 AM
East
Bengal Coach Phillipe De Ridder spoke exclusively to Goal.com, sharing his views
and objectives after assessing the team for two weeks.
Goal.com: In 2006, East Bengal had won the Super Cup and finished second in the National Leage under you. What forced you to quit after having a successful stint with the club?
De Ridder: I came to India with a motive to coach the IFA Academy in Haldia. But then I had to accept the East Bengal offer for the remainder of the season. However due to contractual disagreement in 2007 with some of the club officials I decided to part my ways with the club.
Goal.com: Where had you been all this while? What kind of assignments kept you busy since leaving India three years ago?
De Ridder: I took up coaching assignments in countries like Bulgaria, Belgium and Ecuador. Apart from that I have my own football academy for kids in Belgium so I was heavily involved with that.
Goal.com: What prompted you to accept East Bengal’s offer for a second spell as a coach? Did you readily accept the offer?
De Ridder: There are few Club officials who are in very good terms with me personally. Even when I was in Europe these people used to keep in touch with me. So when I got an email from that section of the people in this club, I could understand that the club had an acute problem. I had to accept the offer eventually after thinking about it for a few weeks.
Goal.com: It was learnt that the moment you stepped into the club you were on the look out for your favourite player Jayanta Sen. Do you miss him from your roster now?
De Ridder: Well Jayanta is a very talented player. When I said I was looking for Jayanta I meant to look out for the whole group of players who were under me in 2006. I am talking about players like Jayanta, Mama (Malswamatulunga), Dutta (Gouranga Dutta), Anupam Sarkar etc. we had a very talented bunch of footballers at that time.
Goal.com: So you mean you miss the whole group right now?
De Ridder: I do not miss them. But I admit that currently we do not have the right players in my team. I do not mean that the players I have are not good. But what I mean is I do not have the right players in the right position to help me with the team building process.
Goal.com: Your predecessor Subhas Bhowmick had recruited few footballers from the European region. But they failed miserably citing the reason of adverse weather conditions in India. Being an European do you think he was right?
De Ridder: A footballer is a footballer. Be it wind, snow, sand you have to play the game anywhere. So these excuses do not find any place in a professional set up.
Goal.com: You have been in charge of the team for the last two weeks and the team has played two matches under you. What do you think was the main area of concern for you?
De Ridder: I have had time to assess the team. But the time I got is not enough to be frank. I feel that there are two areas off concern, fitness and morale.
Goal.com: Have been working on those areas?
De Ridder: Yes. I have been working hard on boosting the morale of the team. You must have noticed that I often joke with the players during training and keep the sessions very light so that the players can be comfortable and adjust to my methods very soon. Apart from that I have brought with me Daniel, who is working as an individual coach as well as the Physical fitness trainer.
Goal.com: What will be your objective for the remainder of the season?
De Ridder: For a team like East Bengal my objective is to bring out the best from the players I have. I know I have very limited resources but I will give my best efforts to go for championships which starts with the Federation Cup in December.
Goal.com: Thanks a lot for speaking to Goal.com
De Ridder: Thanks and best wishes.
Rahul Sengupta
Goal.com: In 2006, East Bengal had won the Super Cup and finished second in the National Leage under you. What forced you to quit after having a successful stint with the club?
De Ridder: I came to India with a motive to coach the IFA Academy in Haldia. But then I had to accept the East Bengal offer for the remainder of the season. However due to contractual disagreement in 2007 with some of the club officials I decided to part my ways with the club.
Goal.com: Where had you been all this while? What kind of assignments kept you busy since leaving India three years ago?
De Ridder: I took up coaching assignments in countries like Bulgaria, Belgium and Ecuador. Apart from that I have my own football academy for kids in Belgium so I was heavily involved with that.
Goal.com: What prompted you to accept East Bengal’s offer for a second spell as a coach? Did you readily accept the offer?
De Ridder: There are few Club officials who are in very good terms with me personally. Even when I was in Europe these people used to keep in touch with me. So when I got an email from that section of the people in this club, I could understand that the club had an acute problem. I had to accept the offer eventually after thinking about it for a few weeks.
Goal.com: It was learnt that the moment you stepped into the club you were on the look out for your favourite player Jayanta Sen. Do you miss him from your roster now?
De Ridder: Well Jayanta is a very talented player. When I said I was looking for Jayanta I meant to look out for the whole group of players who were under me in 2006. I am talking about players like Jayanta, Mama (Malswamatulunga), Dutta (Gouranga Dutta), Anupam Sarkar etc. we had a very talented bunch of footballers at that time.
Goal.com: So you mean you miss the whole group right now?
De Ridder: I do not miss them. But I admit that currently we do not have the right players in my team. I do not mean that the players I have are not good. But what I mean is I do not have the right players in the right position to help me with the team building process.
Goal.com: Your predecessor Subhas Bhowmick had recruited few footballers from the European region. But they failed miserably citing the reason of adverse weather conditions in India. Being an European do you think he was right?
De Ridder: A footballer is a footballer. Be it wind, snow, sand you have to play the game anywhere. So these excuses do not find any place in a professional set up.
Goal.com: You have been in charge of the team for the last two weeks and the team has played two matches under you. What do you think was the main area of concern for you?
De Ridder: I have had time to assess the team. But the time I got is not enough to be frank. I feel that there are two areas off concern, fitness and morale.
Goal.com: Have been working on those areas?
De Ridder: Yes. I have been working hard on boosting the morale of the team. You must have noticed that I often joke with the players during training and keep the sessions very light so that the players can be comfortable and adjust to my methods very soon. Apart from that I have brought with me Daniel, who is working as an individual coach as well as the Physical fitness trainer.
Goal.com: What will be your objective for the remainder of the season?
De Ridder: For a team like East Bengal my objective is to bring out the best from the players I have. I know I have very limited resources but I will give my best efforts to go for championships which starts with the Federation Cup in December.
Goal.com: Thanks a lot for speaking to Goal.com
De Ridder: Thanks and best wishes.
Rahul Sengupta
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