By FEYZA GUMUSLUOGLU
Bulent Uygun is the first Turkish coach who has been training an Arab football team. Former player of Turkey’s leading Fenerbahce and coach of Sivasspor, Uygun has been considered among the best in football field. As he completes his one-and-half year with Qatari team Umm Salal, Uygun shared his experience in Qatar and future plans to Doha Today.
How would you define your experience in Qatar so far?
Qatar is a great place to live in. Turkey and Qatar are very similar to each other in terms of culture. Turks and Qataris have a lot in common. We had a long history going all the way back to Ottoman period. The two are important actors in regional and international arena. I am extremely delighted and honored to be of service here in this country. It is a place full of dreams.
What is your dream?
My dream is to win the three cups (League, QNB and Emir Cup) and finally become Asian champion. In order to reach these goals I work very hard. Every coach has his own style of coaching. I also have my own style and am trying to develop it by adopting new trends and developments in the world soccer. I try to create a style that will consist of players who are skilful as Brazilians, disciplined as Germans, fun as Americans, serious as British and warrior as Turks.
Both in Turkey and Qatar, you have trained teams in trouble. Isn’t it challenging?
To be honest, I enjoy more working with troubled teams, rather than successful ones. Troubled teams give me a greater experience and I feel that I learn and improve myself more. Also, removing the negative energy on the team and achieving the unimagined is a great joy. Both in Turkey and Qatar, the teams were not doing very good when I took them over. But after a short period of time, we started to see good results.
If I ask you to count your ideal 11 in Qatar?
Lecomte, Muhammed Musa, Luiz, Chico, Nam Tee and Weiss from Lekhwiya, Abdulkarim, Al Haidos and Khalfan from Al Sadd, Pedro from Al Ahli , Muntari from Al Jaish.
You brought Turkish player Tuncay Sanli to Umm Salal. Any other transfer plan from Turkey?
We are considering few names right now. Probably we will make another transfer from Turkey for the next season. Gokhan Tore, Mehmet Ekici, Emenike, Sneijder, Burak Yilmaz and Mehmet Topal are the top names that I would like to see here in Qatar.
World Cup will be held in winter instead of summer. It caused a big controversy. Do you support the decision?
It is a very wise and right decision. For the first time ever, footballers will play without feeling tired or having end-of-season syndrome. They will play at their best performance and of course it will increase the quality of the games we will watch. Winter is the best time of the year in Qatar. With the best stadiums in the world, it will definitely be an excellent experience.
Can a coach really change a team’s destiny?
The team and its coach are one. You can not think one without another. Of course a good coach can make a big difference. But we should also consider that in teams such as Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea, with such players you will be champion whoever you bring as a coach. Winning the cup does not always make you the best coach. The same coach may not be that successful in an average team. Rijkaard, for instance, in Galatasaray, he did not show the same success as he showed in Barcelona and right now no one is talking about him.
Which qualification of you impressed your club Umm Salal?
My achievements at a young age in Turkey impressed them. When I met our President, Sheikh Faisal for the first time, he believed in me. I watched Umm Salal when I came to Qatar. After watching, I told him that we would complete the league as fifth. He said it would be enough for the beginning if they avoid being relegated. Indeed, we would have completed the league as fifth if we won the last match.
How is Umm Salal before and after you?
It has been one and half year since I came. I took over Umm Salal in a position of 12 weeks without any single win. At first it was very difficult, as there was a great negative energy on the team. Despite two world famous coaches in a row yet no win, it was very challenging for me to change its destiny. But thank God we have done a good job. A lot has changed positively in only one and half year. We are no longer seen as a team that can be defeated easily. Our rivals take us more seriously now.
Qatar and Turkey have developed a very strong relationship in the past few years. Can you see its reflection on sports field?
Both countries have excellent relationship and this gives me a chance to act as a sports ambassador here in Qatar. In near future, we will witness a greater cooperation, not only in football but other fields as well, with the coming of more trainers and players. After Qatari and Turkish national teams play a friendly match, it will even increase.
What are the similarities and differences between Qatar and Turkey in terms of football style?
Turkey has a well established and developed football system. In Qatar, with the presence of Aspire academy, youth is being prepared in an excellent way. In Turkey, unfortunately young talents are playing street football. With the vision and resources, Qatar has a great sports culture, not only football. Young talents in Turkey are not as lucky as the ones here in Qatar. The government has a great vision, from education to sports. And it is a real chance for the youth here because they have a great support from the government.
Qatar is very active in football, as it owned Paris Saint Germain. Why is football that important for Qatar?
Qataris are key players in world economy. Being the owner of worldwide sports clubs is one of the best things that only Qatar can do! Football is one of the most popular sports in the world and being involved in this field makes you a key world player.
Football stadiums are usually empty here. How do you see football culture in Qatar?
There is a wide variety of sports activities here in Qatar. You do not have football games only, you have almost every thing from handball to fencing. Therefore the spectators are divided. Football stadiums are not full, but this does not mean that people do not watch football games. Also, Qatari people prefer bringing the stadium environment in their own ‘majles’. They like to watch the games in their comfortable places, having shisha with their friends.
Do you want to continue in Umm Salal or there is another team in your heart?
Each and every coach have a dream to train a national team. Of course personally I have this dream, too. I would like to train Qatar national team one day.
Barcelona or Real Madrid?
Barcelona!
Al Sadd recently signed a transfer agreement with famous Xavi. How do you see this transfer?
I congratulate the managers of Al Sadd for brining one of the best midfielders in the world. They did not only make a great contribution to their team, but also to Qatar. It is a great and exclusive transfer, maybe the best one it could happen among all the possibilities. For sure the new season will be much more competitive and delightful. In Umm Salal, we are like brothers with my President Sheikh Faisal. But, our budget is not as high as Al Sadd, Lekhwiya, Al Gharafa or Al Arabi. We try to make the best use of our current players. In terms of transfer, we are in contact with three international players right now, as well as Qataris. Our goal as Umm Salal is to win at least one cup next season.
Many famous coaches, including Zico, came to Qatar but they failed. Why?
Your real purpose of coming plays an essential role here. In general world famous coaches who are successful in their home countries face the same syndrome when they move to another country. If you come to Qatar only for economic concerns, then most likely you fail here. I did not come to Qatar to make money only. I came here to realize my goals and dreams. I am the first Turkish coach who came to this region. Despite our limited budget compared to other big clubs here, we have done a good job so far. Money is my last concern. My priority is to represent Turkey in the best possible way and to act like a sports ambassador here as the relations between Turkey and Qatar are excellent in all areas.
You said money is not your priority, yet many people think that your salary here is much higher than in Turkey?
No, it is the same. People think that it is much higher but it is not. I was already among the best three coaches in Turkey, I was getting paid very well. Therefore there is no radical change in my salary.
Qatar has been harshly criticised in terms of the rights of workers who have been building the future stadiums. What do you think about it?
Working in construction area is risky everywhere. Unfortunately some accidents occur, but it is not unique to Qatar. I think these kind of reports are not sincere, they are malevolent. The main purpose is not to take care of the workers but to attack Qatar for political reasons. Ignoring the killings of Muslims in Palestine or Syria, but paying attention only to the workers who have died in unfortunate accidents is Western hypocrisy.
The Peninsula
