Steve Darby Interview
>> Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Perak F.A. Coach, Steve Darby has agreed to answer some of the questions that fans have written in with.
"I am always happy to answer fans questions, especially if they put their name to the question. From experience it’s not worth answering questions from people who hide behind pseudonyms as many Malaysian friends have told me that these can be mischievous people who have no love for the game and just wish to cause trouble. Also sadly some of the press have written incorrect facts about various situations. Try not to believe “anonymous” sources. Real journalists verify stories." - Steve Darby
Q: Why did Keita Manjou not play for Perak this year?
Initially we felt we would not have enough money to employ any foreign players for this season. Then after some excellent financial management by Dato Muhiyuddin we managed to find the funds to employ 2 foreigners. We offered Keita and Traore contracts on exactly the same money that they had been on the previous season. They both rejected the contracts citing “personal reasons at home” We had to respect that and move on to source other foreigners. Neither Keita or Traore played competitive football from September 2007 to May 2008 as we still have their ITC (International Transfer Certificate). Keita has recently transferred to Brunei for a salary way beyond our ability to pay and Traore has asked to come back but wants a pay raise of 40% on last year. Again we just do not have the money.
Q: Did we approach any leading local players?
Yes we did, we approached 5 international players. Three of whom told us that they had been offered twice what we could afford. Also one of our players left for another club on a 50% pay rise. I have no problems with players accepting higher wages as this is their source of income in a short and highly fraught career. How may of people reading this would not accept double the salary to move to a new job? You can’t offer money you don’t have!
Q: Why did we have a small squad?
It was my decision to sign 18 senior players with 5 youth players in support. I felt fans would rather see players such as Nanthakumar, Khalid, or Hardi than watch a squad of 28 made up of average players.
What Perak fans must learn to accept is that we have a budget which is the same as Penang and less than Sarawak and more than 50% less than many other teams, including at least 4 in the Premier League. Two teams in the league have had over 9 foreigners, do you realise how much that costs?
One National Coach said to me that in reality Perak have been over- achieving in the last 3 seasons compared to the budget they have to spend!
Let’s get realistic about the football business, Derby County will not win the BPL, only Manchester Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc will win. They have the largest budget, hence bigger squads of better players. Until a major sponsor is found we will continue to try do what Everton and West Ham do. And as you see Perak qualified for the first time ever into the knockout stages of the AFC Cup. A great achievement when we concluded the group stage beating Singapore who had 4 foreigners playing. Again manipulation of the media can change a story. SAF left 2 players out of their first eleven, as we did (Khalid and Nantha both injured). We are also the first foreign team to beat a Singapore team on the artificial surface.
Believe me I would love to have 2 Malaysian International strikers on the bench in a game, but we cannot fund this depth of squad.
We were undone by the amazing schedule that was impinged upon us with12 games in 34 days plus thousands of kilometers of travel. This schedule was drawn up after the season started and after we found out our striker Fakri was taken off us to play for the National Team.
In specific we lost both our strikers (Khalid and Carlos) for 6 games at the same time, recently we have lost up to 5 players with a virus, in fact we took only 13 players to Brunei as we had 1 suspended (Khairi) 1 injured (Khalid) and 3 with virus (Danial, Rozali and Mat Nor). Normally we could fill the bench with young players but we found out many of the young players did not have passports. We actually had Hamsani on the bench as an outfield player!
Q: You and the players receive criticism on the internet.
Sadly like most players I no longer read the forum sections of internet sites. It’s pity as some of the sites like Yob4ever are top class. With their information and photos, obviously driven by genuine fans. But again why should I or the players read personal vindictive abuse written by invisible people? Constructive criticism is fine, but I have had many genuine Malaysian fans come up to me and the players apologizing for some of he comments made, and suggesting these people don’t even go to the game! You will find the people who have played or coached at a decent level make valid critisism, but some of these critics have obviously never kicked a ball past school days.
I was told that one “expert” was saying how bad our back three were playing in one game, in fact in that game and for the previous three we had been playing 4-5-1, So much for the ability to read a game.
Alex Ferguson once commented on a similar situation in UK when he said why don’t all the experts who critisise his coaching methods get off their backsides and put their knowledge to where it matters by helping kids or school teams who have no coaches. Then we would see how difficult job it is. And they would be doing something positive with their time. When I go to get my car fixed I don’t tell the mechanic what to do and I certainly don’t write comments about him on the net!
You also never see true professional coaches abusing each other, so again perhaps some of the criticism can be filed under fiction?
But to be balanced there are so many genuine fans out there who are the silent majority. The genuine support does help players and they appreciate the real fans. I know that the players and the staff never say No to any autograph or photo request. And a number of players do charity work behind the scenes they just don’t brag about it.
We also open all our training sesions to local coaches and have photo access through our blog so fans can see what the players do.
Q: Why don’t you critisise your players in public
I never critisise individual players in public. WE win together and WE lose together. Believe me criticism goes on in the dressing room, but that’s where it stays. I also don’t think it makes a player improve if you name and shame him in the press. Your job is to get the best out of your players and it’s a complex task with so many variable personalities in a team. I find it pathetic when coaches say “they didn’t listen to my instructions”…that means they weren’t explained well enough.
Q: Why don’t Perak spend more money
If you are driving a motor bike, why don’t you buy a Mercedes? Because you haven’t got the money. It’s so easy to say get the money! I know Dato Muhiyuddin is working long hours to acquire the money needed to fund a club this size.
There are many debts left over from previous administrations that are having to be paid now. Most people (quite rightly) don’t know the true economic situation of Perak. If they did they would be shocked. The recent publicity about the 560,000Rm owed to the Stadium is only a fraction of the debts.
What I do know is that we have saved over a million ringitt this year by reducing the foreign player budget, traveling costs, eliminating overnight stays, flying with smaller amounts of players by Air Asia and getting buses everywhere else.
Q: Do you think Perak has been affected by match fixing?
Yes! Our players have been approached and in turn they did the correct thing and informed the management who in turn confidentially informed FAM. But it immediately puts pressure on a player, and if they make a mistake cynics suggest it’s on purpose. Every player makes mistakes, just look at Rise or Ronaldo in the recent ECL semi finals.
Match fixing both saddens and disgusts me. Maybe we would have been champions last year if all the results had been honest? That’s no disrespect to Kedah who are an excellent side but did bookies get to opposition teams to lose by big scores, and to be fair this could be targeted at some of our opponents. I was even asked the question did I realise that the referee who refereed the Malaysia Cup Final has never refereed again. There may be a valid reason, but people think the worst when match fixing scenarios rise.
My personal view is that no Perak player has sold a game. I back them 100%. As I told them we should welcome investigation as if you are innocent you have nothing to fear. If they are found clean then this should also be publicized to exonerate them in the public eye.
Q: Are you happy with season?
No! You are never happy when you lose any game. I hate losing, I don’t sleep after we have lost! We made mistakes (including me) some players excelled, some didn’t. But again I re iterate every player gives 100% they hate losing; it’s their passion, their livelihood. They all want to win every game, but as in all leagues in the world this doesn’t happen.
Q: Where can Perak get better
I will continue to complain about the quality of our pitch (which deprives fans of good football) and the non existent training facilities, especially for our young players. You only get better by quality practice. Is it co incidence that all the best teams have outstanding training facilities? The facilities in Perak are a disgrace. Everybody wants professional results but nobody is prepared to give us professional preparation. Malaysia will continue to lag behind Japan and Korea until every club has top class training facilities. If its crime to try to set high standards then I am a criminal.
Also if we are to be honest we need a larger “Front Office” including professional marketing and media officers who in turn generate funds. Our office staff are grossly over worked. But it’s the same story, under capitalized organisations straddled with large debts.
Q: Malaysia Cup
Q: Why did Keita Manjou not play for Perak this year?
Initially we felt we would not have enough money to employ any foreign players for this season. Then after some excellent financial management by Dato Muhiyuddin we managed to find the funds to employ 2 foreigners. We offered Keita and Traore contracts on exactly the same money that they had been on the previous season. They both rejected the contracts citing “personal reasons at home” We had to respect that and move on to source other foreigners. Neither Keita or Traore played competitive football from September 2007 to May 2008 as we still have their ITC (International Transfer Certificate). Keita has recently transferred to Brunei for a salary way beyond our ability to pay and Traore has asked to come back but wants a pay raise of 40% on last year. Again we just do not have the money.
Q: Did we approach any leading local players?
Yes we did, we approached 5 international players. Three of whom told us that they had been offered twice what we could afford. Also one of our players left for another club on a 50% pay rise. I have no problems with players accepting higher wages as this is their source of income in a short and highly fraught career. How may of people reading this would not accept double the salary to move to a new job? You can’t offer money you don’t have!
Q: Why did we have a small squad?
It was my decision to sign 18 senior players with 5 youth players in support. I felt fans would rather see players such as Nanthakumar, Khalid, or Hardi than watch a squad of 28 made up of average players.
What Perak fans must learn to accept is that we have a budget which is the same as Penang and less than Sarawak and more than 50% less than many other teams, including at least 4 in the Premier League. Two teams in the league have had over 9 foreigners, do you realise how much that costs?
One National Coach said to me that in reality Perak have been over- achieving in the last 3 seasons compared to the budget they have to spend!
Let’s get realistic about the football business, Derby County will not win the BPL, only Manchester Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal etc will win. They have the largest budget, hence bigger squads of better players. Until a major sponsor is found we will continue to try do what Everton and West Ham do. And as you see Perak qualified for the first time ever into the knockout stages of the AFC Cup. A great achievement when we concluded the group stage beating Singapore who had 4 foreigners playing. Again manipulation of the media can change a story. SAF left 2 players out of their first eleven, as we did (Khalid and Nantha both injured). We are also the first foreign team to beat a Singapore team on the artificial surface.
Believe me I would love to have 2 Malaysian International strikers on the bench in a game, but we cannot fund this depth of squad.
We were undone by the amazing schedule that was impinged upon us with12 games in 34 days plus thousands of kilometers of travel. This schedule was drawn up after the season started and after we found out our striker Fakri was taken off us to play for the National Team.
In specific we lost both our strikers (Khalid and Carlos) for 6 games at the same time, recently we have lost up to 5 players with a virus, in fact we took only 13 players to Brunei as we had 1 suspended (Khairi) 1 injured (Khalid) and 3 with virus (Danial, Rozali and Mat Nor). Normally we could fill the bench with young players but we found out many of the young players did not have passports. We actually had Hamsani on the bench as an outfield player!
Q: You and the players receive criticism on the internet.
Sadly like most players I no longer read the forum sections of internet sites. It’s pity as some of the sites like Yob4ever are top class. With their information and photos, obviously driven by genuine fans. But again why should I or the players read personal vindictive abuse written by invisible people? Constructive criticism is fine, but I have had many genuine Malaysian fans come up to me and the players apologizing for some of he comments made, and suggesting these people don’t even go to the game! You will find the people who have played or coached at a decent level make valid critisism, but some of these critics have obviously never kicked a ball past school days.
I was told that one “expert” was saying how bad our back three were playing in one game, in fact in that game and for the previous three we had been playing 4-5-1, So much for the ability to read a game.
Alex Ferguson once commented on a similar situation in UK when he said why don’t all the experts who critisise his coaching methods get off their backsides and put their knowledge to where it matters by helping kids or school teams who have no coaches. Then we would see how difficult job it is. And they would be doing something positive with their time. When I go to get my car fixed I don’t tell the mechanic what to do and I certainly don’t write comments about him on the net!
You also never see true professional coaches abusing each other, so again perhaps some of the criticism can be filed under fiction?
But to be balanced there are so many genuine fans out there who are the silent majority. The genuine support does help players and they appreciate the real fans. I know that the players and the staff never say No to any autograph or photo request. And a number of players do charity work behind the scenes they just don’t brag about it.
We also open all our training sesions to local coaches and have photo access through our blog so fans can see what the players do.
Q: Why don’t you critisise your players in public
I never critisise individual players in public. WE win together and WE lose together. Believe me criticism goes on in the dressing room, but that’s where it stays. I also don’t think it makes a player improve if you name and shame him in the press. Your job is to get the best out of your players and it’s a complex task with so many variable personalities in a team. I find it pathetic when coaches say “they didn’t listen to my instructions”…that means they weren’t explained well enough.
Q: Why don’t Perak spend more money
If you are driving a motor bike, why don’t you buy a Mercedes? Because you haven’t got the money. It’s so easy to say get the money! I know Dato Muhiyuddin is working long hours to acquire the money needed to fund a club this size.
There are many debts left over from previous administrations that are having to be paid now. Most people (quite rightly) don’t know the true economic situation of Perak. If they did they would be shocked. The recent publicity about the 560,000Rm owed to the Stadium is only a fraction of the debts.
What I do know is that we have saved over a million ringitt this year by reducing the foreign player budget, traveling costs, eliminating overnight stays, flying with smaller amounts of players by Air Asia and getting buses everywhere else.
Q: Do you think Perak has been affected by match fixing?
Yes! Our players have been approached and in turn they did the correct thing and informed the management who in turn confidentially informed FAM. But it immediately puts pressure on a player, and if they make a mistake cynics suggest it’s on purpose. Every player makes mistakes, just look at Rise or Ronaldo in the recent ECL semi finals.
Match fixing both saddens and disgusts me. Maybe we would have been champions last year if all the results had been honest? That’s no disrespect to Kedah who are an excellent side but did bookies get to opposition teams to lose by big scores, and to be fair this could be targeted at some of our opponents. I was even asked the question did I realise that the referee who refereed the Malaysia Cup Final has never refereed again. There may be a valid reason, but people think the worst when match fixing scenarios rise.
My personal view is that no Perak player has sold a game. I back them 100%. As I told them we should welcome investigation as if you are innocent you have nothing to fear. If they are found clean then this should also be publicized to exonerate them in the public eye.
Q: Are you happy with season?
No! You are never happy when you lose any game. I hate losing, I don’t sleep after we have lost! We made mistakes (including me) some players excelled, some didn’t. But again I re iterate every player gives 100% they hate losing; it’s their passion, their livelihood. They all want to win every game, but as in all leagues in the world this doesn’t happen.
Q: Where can Perak get better
I will continue to complain about the quality of our pitch (which deprives fans of good football) and the non existent training facilities, especially for our young players. You only get better by quality practice. Is it co incidence that all the best teams have outstanding training facilities? The facilities in Perak are a disgrace. Everybody wants professional results but nobody is prepared to give us professional preparation. Malaysia will continue to lag behind Japan and Korea until every club has top class training facilities. If its crime to try to set high standards then I am a criminal.
Also if we are to be honest we need a larger “Front Office” including professional marketing and media officers who in turn generate funds. Our office staff are grossly over worked. But it’s the same story, under capitalized organisations straddled with large debts.
Q: Malaysia Cup
We have had 9 players in full training for the Malaysia Cup. We have lost players to various national teams and to Sukma. I must add that I believe PFA did the corect thingin sending the Presidents Cup squad to Sukma as this is a developmental competition. The Coach Yee Fat has done a tremendous job with very yong players.
As all fans know the Malaysian cup is a "different ball game" and many teams change for it. Due to economics we will be keeping the same squad but going all out to better our final appearance last year.
As all fans know the Malaysian cup is a "different ball game" and many teams change for it. Due to economics we will be keeping the same squad but going all out to better our final appearance last year.
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