West German coach changes rules in Fiji soccer

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 32

West German coach changes rules in Fiji soccer

By

TALE MOALA

NZPA special correspondent '"'t'' .Suva Rudi Guntendorf is changing the rules in Fiji; soccer and coaches could rend up with a new voice in the game. The West German’'professional has been here just one month and a day, but local soccer men say his-comments so far would have earned him several suspensions if he were a local. The West German’s most public outburst was at the first Fiji-Minsk Dynamo match at the national stadium, Suva, last week. He shouted at Fiji Football Association officials in front of the big crowd, criticising the number of substitutes allowed. i f "You are stupid. : You are idiot You don't know anything. I am the boss, I decide what to do,” he told Jitendra Maharaj, the association’s secretary. Association life member Sashi Mahendra Singh came to calm him down and Guntendorf pushed him away. National team sources say there have been a number of other incidents in which Guntendorf has criticised officials. Team manager Jahir Khan

was the first to get a taste of Guntendorfs tongue. No masseur was present at the team’s first training session and Guntendorf said that Khan should not be a manager if he cannot arrange for one.

He cancelled the training and told the players to -go swimming.

Guntendorf said that if the team director could not be present to solve the problem he should not be a director, and said that he did not want an assistant manager who only made press releases. Sadhu Prasad is team director and Santokh Singh the assistant manager. After the national stadium incident, Fiji Football Association president Dr Samshud-Dean Sahu Khan was overheard telling Maharaj that Guntendorf should be disciplined. But when questioned later Dr Sahu Khan said: “Where did you get all your rumours from?” and he put down the phone. The officials’ attitude towards Guntendorf has been in marked contrast to that towards local coaches, who have been suspended into silence. Mike Thoman, who is one

of the local coaches understudying Guntendorf, must be one who is watching with interest

Thoman, one of the most capable local coaches, is a man who puts much thought into his soccer. But, when he made what he felt was.constructive comments in the papers after coaching the national team against - New Zealand last year, he was charged by the Fiji Football Association. He and other local coaches must be watching with envy as Guntendorf comments freely.

They must also be watching in envy as he demands and gets the conditions he wants, the players he wants and the selection he wants. He is also proving that giving the coach authority and support like this helps get results.

Guntendorf meanwhile pushes on, determined to get results and is more worried about his players than he is about Fiji Football Association officials.

His support for his players is reflected in the commitment they give him on the field.

"I don’t know F.F.A., I only know players,” he is claimed to have said.