By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay
I-League Media Team

NEW DELHI: Katz Naidoo, the person of sheer football acumen, joins Dempo SC and he will be at the helm of club’s youth development programme and will also conduct the video analysis. Naidoo will also brainstorm for FC Goa, although his exact role will be defined after consultations with the gaffer. Naidoo, an Indian by birth, inked his first major professional coaching assignment at club Maritzburg United where he served as Head of Development.

In his first year at Maritzburg, the academy team made a plucky progress in the competitive arena having won the metropolitan League in consecutive years and the play-offs to earn a place in the SAB league. He set his voyage for Goa after enjoying the successful stint with Maritzburg United and joined Goa Football Development Council as the Technical Director.  Since his contract with GFDC was not renewed, Dempo SC wasted no time to hire Naidoo to hone the prodigies.

Katz Naidoo, an extremely outspoken and candid bloke, didn’t hide any emotions speaking to www.i-league.org on his contract with Dempo SC, his responsibilities in Dempo SC and how are they different from GFDC. Moreover, he shared his vantage point on India’s prospect in the forthcoming U17 FIFA World Cup, 2017.

EXCERPTS:

Maritzburg United to Technical Director of GFDC, how was the journey ahead of joining Dempo SC?

My stay at United set the foundation for the post of Technical Director at GFDC. Prior to joining United I was a CAF Instructor and continued to serve CAF till my appointment with GFDC. I paid my school fees by working in the Transnet and Simba Development Programs and was a National selector for the U12, U14 and U17 teams. Remember my journey started in the winter of 1994.

My association in youth football, before joining United, yielded some good talents who were recruited by the SAFA School of Excellence, eventually these players joined professional outfits and represented the country. This was also possible because I worked with committed and excellent youth coaches. I am Indian but I learnt my trade in the tough black townships.

One of my gurus is Ted Dumitru, a Romanian guy, who is the father of the Maximal Training Method. He made me realise that football is an “art”. I’m highly indebted to Horst Kriete, who was the Technical Director in South Africa and a respected FIFA accredited instructor.

My stay at GFDC has added impetus to my holistic approach towards coaching education. I felt privileged to work with the enthusiastic and talented children of Goa; I was overwhelmed to find these soccer gems even in the dusty rural bowels of Goa. Even I learned so many minute aspects having worked with the coaches within the GFDC who adapted positively to my coaching philosophy. I hope that I could make an impact in the heart and minds of these children and coaches.

My association with all football stakeholders has paved the way for me to work at one of India’s big football brands, Dempo SC and I cherish the attachment with FC GOA.

What were your motivations to join Dempo SC?

Dempo SC have a strong presence in Indian football and they are entitled with an enviable history. I found they were quite ambitious and I share that ambition too. Furthermore, I feel a strong cohesion with their vision of building the future around local players and strengthening the supply line to the senior team. I was thrilled to see an all-Indian Dempo SC starting eleven in their last Hero I-league game this season, it clearly vindicates the abundance of talents in India. Coach Morgen must be credited for regrouping the team in such a short spell. I see them bouncing back into the Hero I-League very soon.

How will your role be different in Dempo SC from GFDC?

My mandate was to add the extra vigour to the Grassroots development, training & developing the coaches, overhauling the coaching methodologies, planning of sessions in GFDC.

At Dempo SC, Grassroots will be an important part, but the other three phases will also be part of my focus- Training to Train, Training to Compete and Training to Win.

The coaches on board will be guided in the training demands in relation to the various age groups and their characteristics, addressing the fundamental factors of performance and executing managerial duties. The training sessions for the youth teams will put extra stress on the game method that will challenge their minds. Training will be garnered towards the modern demands of the game.

Don’t you think your work will be more challenging because of the team’s relegation?

I won’t go with you on this aspect. No football team can boast of merrier days all though. Mr. Dempo put his faith in the existing bunch of employees, which is a great sign from a footballer point of view and trust me, they are bound to make a comeback to the Hero I-League, that too with a bang.

The onus will be on the technical staff and the players now. With astute planning and hardworking, they will make it undoubtedly.

Will the prodigies be able to motivate themselves from seniors who would be competing in the 2^nd division league?

According to me, ambition of the youth programs are nothing but reinforcing the senior team. Otherwise I’m afraid that the investment would be futile. It will be my priority to ensure the philosophy and to make them palpable with the playing style adopted by the first team.

A player with the principle of continuity, right focus and application would make the cut into the professional arena. Talent would push you by 20%, while the remaining 80% could be earned by hard work. The technical staff can only play a supportive role with guidance and motivation.

Apart from the technical aspects, which will be the added corners where would you emphasise to hone their skills?

If there is no technique, I’m afraid to say tactics can’t be implemented. It is a prudent truth of today’s football. The Football Brain is crucial as it masters over the muscles. I’m not an advocate of mechanical training as it suppresses the self-expression and creativity.

Conditioning with the ball is the cornerstone of our methodology, because training must reflect nuances of the game. All physical activity will be ball related, be it strength, endurance, speed endurance or any other physical aspects. This method, which is known as the Maximal Training, addresses the factors of performance, Technique, Tactics, Conditioning and the Psychological factors within a session. Football is complex and it demands multi-action.

What are the areas where you focus mainly during video analysis?

Analysis has become an important tool to not only assess your opponents, but yourself. It’s the coaches’ responsibility to contemplate the tactical frailties and addressing the remedies.

Flaws can be dissected and shared with the players in order to rectify football problems, these clips are paramount as it gives the coach the opportunity to sell his idea as well as share with the individuals.

Overview of your opponents provides insight of their game strategy as well as their strengths and weaknesses, these meticulous information are of utmost importance while deploying your strategies.

What will be the basic needs of the hour on the brink of the U17 World Cup, 2017?

Preparation for a World Cup is an extensive four year plan, hiring a German Coach only two years before the kick-off is a bit concerning.

Most teams have already started their rigorous preparation, with almost 15 hours of training per week. As I believe, to make it to the knockout stage would be of India’s paramount importance as the host.