Exclusive Interview: Abedi Pele on Nania triumph

Published on: 26 July 2011

Ghana legend Abedi Pele made history on Sunday when he became the first coach to lead a second-tier side to win the Ghana MTN FA Cup.

The club he owns and coaches, Nania FC, beat Kotoko 1-0 in the final on Sunday to become the first club outside the top-flight to win the title.

The three-time African Player of Year talks exclusively to MTNFootball about the historic victory and his future plans for the club.

MTNFootball: Congratulations on winning the first major silverware for your own club, Nania FC.

Abedi Pele: Thank you very much.

MTNFootball: A lot of people want to know how come a small club like Nania FC managed to win a major title like the FA Cup.

AP: First of all I think it is very important to give credit to the players who showed a lot of dedication and determination, and thankfully it has paid off.

There were moments we were made to work really hard but the boys showed a lot of commitment to the vision of the technical handlers and as we moved on, the vision became closer and closer until we realised it was possible to win the competition.

MTNFootball: At which stage of the competition did you realise you could win it?

AP: We really saw the light after the semi-finals when we beat Chelsea. After that victory, we realised it was possible to beat any team once we were able to conquer the league champions.

It was only then that we realised that we are in for big, big business and then set our sights on the ultimate.

MTNFootball: Could you please share with us some of the difficulties and challenges faced during this competition?

AP: First of all, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank MTN. Without them, we wouldn’t have had the platform to showcase our talents and eventually me talking to you right now as champions.

However, preparations weren’t the best. Expenditure far outweighs revenue. For instance we had to travel to Kintampo for a game and we were only given GH? 4,000 to prepare. We ended up spending GH? 8,000 so we can give proper accommodation to our players.

However we don’t feel all these pains now because we have the trophy but had it been the opposite, you would have probably seen me weeping here.

MTNFootball: All those who watched the game were impressed with the brand of football displayed by your team with many likening it to Barcelona. How then were you able to get your team playing like that?

AP: I think this is a million dollar question but not to offend the other clubs. I think we have an objective and vision of developing young players.

We have colts (juvenile) players who have been with the team for about six months, one year, or maximum two seasons with FC Nania, and when we put them together we like to play like Barcelona.

I have studied the way they (Barcelona) train and we replicate it here. Also because I love to see beautiful football, I give the chance to my boys to express their individual skills but we draw a line between individual and collective play so we make sure these guys can come out with good collective play. The rest I must say is a secret.

MTNFootball: Having succeeded in getting your team play like that without any coaching qualification, why won’t you go into full-time coaching and perhaps with any of the national teams?

AP: I am only interested in helping the young ones realse their dreams to be superstars and nothing more. I have said it before that full-time coaching is not something that interests me.

During my playing time, I learnt a lot from some of the coaches I played under and I try to add it to the modern trend to make my team play that way.

MTNFootball: Winning the FA Cup has increased expectations for the club and therefore failure to qualify to the Premiership would be considered a disaster. How do you intend to deal with this pressure?

AP: It has categorically never been our priority to play in the Premiership. We are going to be where we are, we will continue to play good football, the best football, but when it comes, we’ll give it our best shot. But is not going to be a do-or-die for affair for us to be in the Premiership.

We even don’t have the financial muscle to compete in the league. Even one trip away to play in the Division makes us sweat a lot, much less in the Premiership.

MTNFootball: Where will Nania FC be in the next five to ten years?

AP: Nobody knows but we hope and pray that in the next five years we develop our 50-acre plot of land into a world class academy.

My dream is to have a big stadium and several quality pitches, hotels and other facilities on that site so we pray God gives us that wisdom and finances to pursue this dream. I bought this land situated at Kuntunase close to Amasman (at the outskirts of Accra) 10 years ago and I hope we get the needed resources to make this dream of mine a reality.

We are very quiet now, that is how FC Nania operates. Very low profile but we’ll surely make it (laughs).

MTNFootball: Thank You very much for your time with us.

AP: Thank you too for having me.

Source: MTNFootball.com

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