Saturday, February 27, 2010
So you wanna work in South East Asia?
We keep hearing about how foreign players and coaches have 'difficulties' with their club in this region. It can be lack of payment, lack of information, contradictory information, whatever.
So how to make the best of it? How to cut through the cultural differences, avoid the language faux pauxs and have a bloody good laugh? This is my perosnal view with no input from anybody else involved in football. It is though based on something like 18 years in the region.
1 - Make an immediate impression on the field. Yeah, I know everyone dreams about netting a hat trick on their debut and it ain't always gonna happen. But work your loody socks off, don't pout and wave your arms in the air every time something goes wrong. One reason Persib have taken Thai keeper Kosin to their hearts is his attitudte is so damned positive when he is on the field.
2 - Accept that things are gonna go Pete Tong. Games will be rerranged at the last minute, pitches won't be perfect, no matter how well you play you are 'destined' not to win, your salary will come late...it's nothing personal. Happens to all of us, no point letting your ego take over and get all me, me, me
3 - Read some Rudyard Kipling! Don't try and hurry the east 'cos the east ain't for hurrying. You wanna tattoo? Get the first paragraph of the Naulakha
4 - Find out where the flow is and follow it. Getting all gobby and diva-ish will not win you any friends despite what your ego may think. Be flexible and when the wind changes direction bend with it.
5 - Don't look for logic in decision making because you won't find it. Mine is kept in a left luggage locker at Heathrow Airport and each time I return home I take it out and we reminise over old times.
6 - Accept that maybe sometimes the best team just aren't ordained to win. Accept that decisions are made in loftier circles than we move in and these decisions will effect your season.
7 - Remember that old terrace ditty from England. You're a bastard referee!
8 - Understand that if you win something some geezer you have never come across before will suddenly start hogging photo shoots and interviews. Don't worry about him, he will probably be just a politician wishing to bask in your glory. Just lose a few games if you don't wanna see him again. And lose your job.
9 - Get a life. It's hard enough settling into a new area, learning a new lingo and getting used to new food. It's also difficult when everyone wants a piece of a footballer when they win and wanna kill them when they lose. But it is important to try and have some kind of existance beyond the world of football to put things in perspective. Living and working with the same people is a recipe for disaster, it is easy for negativity to seep in and once it does it is hard to escape.
10 - And remember that your contract will end one day! This is a fantastic part of the world and the football culture, certainly here in Indonesia, is amazing. Roll with the blows and when you're an old man with grand children your life story will be worth hearing. Certainly more interesting thn someone like Ashley Cole or Wayne Rooney.
11 - And finally. Finally not everyone is out to screw you. There are many as passionate about their team as we are and as keen to make things happen as we are. It's just they face all the same problems as above as well!
So how to make the best of it? How to cut through the cultural differences, avoid the language faux pauxs and have a bloody good laugh? This is my perosnal view with no input from anybody else involved in football. It is though based on something like 18 years in the region.
1 - Make an immediate impression on the field. Yeah, I know everyone dreams about netting a hat trick on their debut and it ain't always gonna happen. But work your loody socks off, don't pout and wave your arms in the air every time something goes wrong. One reason Persib have taken Thai keeper Kosin to their hearts is his attitudte is so damned positive when he is on the field.
2 - Accept that things are gonna go Pete Tong. Games will be rerranged at the last minute, pitches won't be perfect, no matter how well you play you are 'destined' not to win, your salary will come late...it's nothing personal. Happens to all of us, no point letting your ego take over and get all me, me, me
3 - Read some Rudyard Kipling! Don't try and hurry the east 'cos the east ain't for hurrying. You wanna tattoo? Get the first paragraph of the Naulakha
4 - Find out where the flow is and follow it. Getting all gobby and diva-ish will not win you any friends despite what your ego may think. Be flexible and when the wind changes direction bend with it.
5 - Don't look for logic in decision making because you won't find it. Mine is kept in a left luggage locker at Heathrow Airport and each time I return home I take it out and we reminise over old times.
6 - Accept that maybe sometimes the best team just aren't ordained to win. Accept that decisions are made in loftier circles than we move in and these decisions will effect your season.
7 - Remember that old terrace ditty from England. You're a bastard referee!
8 - Understand that if you win something some geezer you have never come across before will suddenly start hogging photo shoots and interviews. Don't worry about him, he will probably be just a politician wishing to bask in your glory. Just lose a few games if you don't wanna see him again. And lose your job.
9 - Get a life. It's hard enough settling into a new area, learning a new lingo and getting used to new food. It's also difficult when everyone wants a piece of a footballer when they win and wanna kill them when they lose. But it is important to try and have some kind of existance beyond the world of football to put things in perspective. Living and working with the same people is a recipe for disaster, it is easy for negativity to seep in and once it does it is hard to escape.
10 - And remember that your contract will end one day! This is a fantastic part of the world and the football culture, certainly here in Indonesia, is amazing. Roll with the blows and when you're an old man with grand children your life story will be worth hearing. Certainly more interesting thn someone like Ashley Cole or Wayne Rooney.
11 - And finally. Finally not everyone is out to screw you. There are many as passionate about their team as we are and as keen to make things happen as we are. It's just they face all the same problems as above as well!
# posted by Me @ 3:18 AM 
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Actually many of your points also make good guidelines for living in Thailand, regardless of what you do for a living.
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