Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh on Monday commenced training with his new club, Dutch second division side Fortuna Sittard, and in the process made history as the first African to manage a club in the Netherlands... according to Fortuna Sittard:
"It was a continual clicking of cameras and the cameramen almost tumbled over each other. The press room at Fortuna Sittard is usually large enough to accommodate all media, but this time it was way to full. The official presentation of head coach Sunday Oliseh and his assistant Tini Ruijs could rightfully be called a media circus."
Oliseh, who applied for the job directly, rather than through his agent, says he's elated to be coaching the club and says his first aim is to develop a playing philosophy for the club to ensure they concede less goals and play beautiful football... he said:
"I am very happy to be here," the coach said to anyone who would listen.
"Every weekend I go to watch a match somewhere in the area," he said. "And the last game I played for Ajax was against Fortuna. In stadium De Kuip in Rotterdam, the cup final. It was a good game for me, because we won.
So it was not for Fortuna. Maybe I can now make it up to Fortuna by becoming the trainer here. I had actually hoped to start as a trainer somewhere by the start of next season. But this opportunity came along and now I'm here.”
When asked the most frequent question of Why he choose Fortuna Sittard, Sunday Oliseh said:
"Because this is a good opportunity for me," Oliseh said over and over again. "Years ago I got the highest coaching diploma in England, in a class with guys like Ryan Giggs and Roberto Di Matteo.
Now I want to bring my football philosophy into practice. There were other clubs interested in me. But they are thousands of kilometers away from my home (in Belgium).
And I want to be close to my family. My family means the world to me. Is more important than training. But training I love to do most. I contacted Fortuna myself. I have a manager, but I did it myself.
Partly because I wanted to get a feel for the club: what kind of club is Fortuna, where does the club want to go? I spoke with Charly Chudik and liked the conversation we had."
Fortuna Sittard have conceded 39 goals in 19 league games this season and are currently placed 18th with 15 points and Oliseh knows his main aim this season is to stop the club from being relegated... he said:
"We - and I say we – receive way too many goals. We must first stop that from happening. The next phase is to play more to the other goal. So not only keep the other team away from our goal, but also try to win games. Hopefully we develop our own style of football. Sittard-style of football." His first goal for this season, however, is clear: Don’t relegate”, he says.
And he is confident that won’t happen.
More pics below.
Crdt: Fortuna Sittard."I am very happy to be here," the coach said to anyone who would listen.
"Every weekend I go to watch a match somewhere in the area," he said. "And the last game I played for Ajax was against Fortuna. In stadium De Kuip in Rotterdam, the cup final. It was a good game for me, because we won.
So it was not for Fortuna. Maybe I can now make it up to Fortuna by becoming the trainer here. I had actually hoped to start as a trainer somewhere by the start of next season. But this opportunity came along and now I'm here.”
When asked the most frequent question of Why he choose Fortuna Sittard, Sunday Oliseh said:
"Because this is a good opportunity for me," Oliseh said over and over again. "Years ago I got the highest coaching diploma in England, in a class with guys like Ryan Giggs and Roberto Di Matteo.
Now I want to bring my football philosophy into practice. There were other clubs interested in me. But they are thousands of kilometers away from my home (in Belgium).
And I want to be close to my family. My family means the world to me. Is more important than training. But training I love to do most. I contacted Fortuna myself. I have a manager, but I did it myself.
Partly because I wanted to get a feel for the club: what kind of club is Fortuna, where does the club want to go? I spoke with Charly Chudik and liked the conversation we had."
Fortuna Sittard have conceded 39 goals in 19 league games this season and are currently placed 18th with 15 points and Oliseh knows his main aim this season is to stop the club from being relegated... he said:
"We - and I say we – receive way too many goals. We must first stop that from happening. The next phase is to play more to the other goal. So not only keep the other team away from our goal, but also try to win games. Hopefully we develop our own style of football. Sittard-style of football." His first goal for this season, however, is clear: Don’t relegate”, he says.
And he is confident that won’t happen.
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