Rwanda’s Expatriate Coach, Milutin Sredojevic Boasts Ahead Showdown With The Super Eagles...



How are you looking forward  to the game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria?
We are looking to the game with great hope. It’s going to be a tough game against one of the strongest teams in Africa but we know we can upset Nigeria if everything works out well for us. Football in Africa has changed a lot these days and you can see that with the number of big  countries that are missing  from the African Cup of Nations.Egypt, the defending champions didn’t qualify same as Cameroun, Nigeria and South Africa. While small nations like Niger, Botswana are  there. That is a big encouragement for us that if we get our acts together, we can make it to South Africa 2013.
Nigeria have big players in Europe but football is a team game and if we play as a team we can achieve our objective. The most important thing for  us is  not to give them too much respect. Our self belief must also be high. We respect the Nigerian team but do not fear them.

How much do you know about the Nigerian team?
Nigeria is big football nation and they have a lot of professional footballers playing in Europe. In the past, they had players likeJay Jay Okocha,Oliseh ,Amokachi and others. You might say the team is not as strong like it used to be in the past, but they are still well represented in the big clubs.Mikel is there with Chelsea and  Taiwo with Milan.We also know Kanu Yobo, Martins, Yakubu and Odemwingie. You know most of these players are popular and it is easy to know them if you follow the European leagues.

We have been monitoring the situation in Nigeria closely and we know they have a new coach in charge. That is going to make our job a bit difficult because he may decide to use some  new players we are not used to or new formations. We also know Stephen Keshi is trying to put a new team together.
No matter what, we will be ready for them. The last time the two teams played here it was a draw, but Rwanda could have won. If you look at then and now, the gap has really gone down.

You seem so confident about the chances of your team causing an upset against Nigeria.How  do you  intend to approach the game?
It will not be right for me to disclose our tactics before the game,that I can only do with my team.I am sure the Nigeria coach will not like to do the same.  Keeping our tactics to ourselves is very important. It’s been long since Rwanda played at the Nations Cup and we fancy our chances this time  around.
The first leg in Kigali is very important, if we can get a good result then, we will know how to plan for the game in Nigeria. For the first leg we will certainly go out for a win.

Which player from the Nigerian team do  you dread most?
I don’t single out individual players, the only thing I can say is that we respect Nigerian players and the entire team. We don’t have to focus on one player and leave the rest.For example, they have lots of strikers who are deadly, which we must cage.
We will encourage the players not to be afraid of the big stars. The result in Kigali  the last time both teams met is a good one that will encourage the players to  attempt to do well. Don’t forget, Super Eagles always struggle when they play away from home. That is another encouraging factor for us to consider.
Like I said, it is all about believing we can do it and following our game plan on the day of the match. That is very important because if you fail to do that , then you might not get the needed result.

Would you consider yourself out of the running if your team draws or loses the first leg in Kigali?
Losing the game is not in  our thinking. Even though one can only achieve three results in the game; which is a win, draw or defeat. For us we don’t have the mindset of losing the game. The only thing on our minds is victory and nothing else.

How many  changes have you been able to bring to the team since you took over from Sellas Tetteh?
Well, we are trying our best to improve the team and make it stronger like the other teams in Africa who in the past were considered as minnows. You couldn’t have imagined Niger would qualify ahead of Egypt and South Africa in that group. Same as Botswana  who were the first team to make it to the 2012 Nations Cup.

For us, we have some new players coming into the team, taking over from the old guys. The team did not do too well in the last qualifier and it is important we re-organise things. That will take time because you don’t build a winning team in a day.
Players have come through from the youth teams and they are learning fast. We have also seen improvements in the league too. That is also important because it is where you get the players from. If the league is good and well managed, then the quality of playersyou get playing for the team will be better.The guys are passionate about the game, they watch all those big boys in Europe and they want to be like them. Determination is a key factor in the game and they have it in abundance.

It must be challenging for you as an European working in a small African nation like Rwanda. what has been the biggest motivating factor for you?
You are quite  right. Africa and Europe are quite different. The environment, the working conditions and so many other things. I believe  that any coach who wants to work in Africa must take all these factors into consideration  and must be ready to deal with it.
The only  way to succeed out there is to just be focused and keep working hard.There is a possibility of doing well here and moving on to bigger things in future. As a coach, at times you need to start small before you move up.

Africa is an interesting place to work. Ratomir [Dukovic] worked in Rwanda before moving to Ghana.He qualified Rwanda for the Nations Cup in 2004  and led Ghana to the World Cup for the first time in 2006.
I am just trying to do my best here and help develop Rwandan football just like the other coaches who have worked here. The job is challenging but also interesting.I’m ready to give my all to make my stay a memorable and successful one.
And stopping Nigeria must be a big step towards achieving  your set objective…

Yes of course. Doing that will be doing the same as stopping Ghana from the AFCON finals in 2004. We are desperate about playing at the Nations Cup again and if countries like Niger,Sudan and Botswana can make it for the 2012 edition then we believe we also fancy our chances too.
If we do that, then other countries will take us serious .Not only that, it will also open doors for our players to play for big clubs in Europe just like some of their colleagues in other parts of Africa. You get such opportunities by playing at big competitions like  African Cup of Nations.

So for the Rwandan players, it is  not all about  beating Nigeria, but getting a once in a life time opportunity to improve their lives as footballers.
What has the support been like from football authorities in Rwanda and the fans?   

They have been supportive and are doing their best to make sure the team succeed in this task of qualifying for African Cup of Nations in 2013. This task is not only for the coaches alone, but every one associated  with the team.
The Administrators have a role to play while the fans too also have their own jobs. Money is very important because without it, we can’t achieve much. The fans must also be ready to get behind the team on match day especially when things start getting difficult.

Thank you for talking to Complete Sports Saturday.

You’re welcome!