BOBBY WILLIAMSON: ‘STARS WILL BOUNCE BACK’

Harambee stars coach Bobby Williamson looks on during their Africa Cup of Nation Qualifie against Zambia match at Nyayo stadium on Sep.6 2015.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

FeverPitch: There is so much talk about your salary being too much given the fact that results tell a different story. Is it true you are paid Sh2.5 million a month for failure?
Bobby Williamson: To be honest, I would love to see some of these things kept private and confidential. The number of people who have asked me for money lately has been incredible. Everyone thinks I am a rich man. But wait a minute, when I was not paid for over one year who talked about it?

There are about 52 plus countries in this continent, right? But I do not think I would be on the top 10 or 20 best-paid coaches in Africa. I made no demands, that figure is what was agreed with my representatives during the negotiations with the federation. I accepted that but little did I know that I was going to stay for over a year without any pay.

FP: So have you been paid all your dues?

BW: No, I haven’t been paid everything. Whatever I received helped me a great deal and I had to send almost everything to my family back in Scotland. It has not been easy and now I have only been partially paid but they said I would receive the rest in 45 days. So, I am waiting and trying to remain focused. I think even Musa Otieno and a few other guys too have not been paid.

FP: So, why are you hanging on to a job that does not pay, why don’t you go coach another team?

BW: I love my job and I love representing this country. It is not the best job one would love, but Kenya is a wonderful country with talented sportsmen, filled with life and great people. I love it here.

But the talented sportsmen are also known to be quite controversial and scandalous like what just happened in camp before the Zambia match. How do you feel about such stories making headlines instead of winning matches?

I must change the discipline levels of my players. It has been hard and tough for me here, but I love the job and I do not want to leave it. If I am not being professional with your players I do not think anyone would want to see my face around.

I spoke to the players right from day one on the dos and don’ts. I told them not to drink alcohol; no sodas and only take water. Unfortunately, a couple of young players, I do not really know what possessed them to drink some alcohol while in camp and do some other things that I rather not get into.

So, it is my duty as the head coach to discipline them, which is a shame because these are very talented players who should be flying their country’s flag. But again, I will be letting down Kenya and the whole nation if I select players who are undisciplined to represent them. I am just hoping that they will learn a lesson from this and work better going forward. Jesse Were is not only the league’s top scorer, he is a very talented young man that it hurts me not to have on my team but I hope he will change and return to the team soonest. I am a professional who sticks to the rule of law; I like my beer but only when off duty. These guys got to learn to be professional because it is only for a short time.

FP: Some Europe-based players have threatened to quit the national team if the issue of indiscipline does not stop. How will you solve such a crisis?

BW: I spoke to Arnold Origi after the game and he also got a chance to lash out at his fellow players. I only hope that players like Victor Mugubi, Ayub and all the others in Europe will not tire for playing for Kenya. I have assured all the players that their effort will never be in vain. I talked to Victor immediately he landed back from England and he has my assurance that such won’t happen again. I have spoken to everyone else about their colleagues behaving badly and I must stop this nonsense. For now, I will not get tired of speaking and taking action whenever need be.

FP: There are critics who say that you are not in touch with Kenyan football and you do not really care about the players in the leagues. There has not been much about you being seen at the stadium during local league matches, why is that so?

BW: I think that is unfair because I follow the local league so much and I am always in touch with local coaches who have national team players. What I do not know is how the players fair in Europe and other countries overseas because the federation is not the wealthiest and it would not be logical to request money to visit other players just to see how they are doing.

I watched Gor Mahia playing against Posta Rangers at the Astroturf in Eastlands the other day at 10:00am, fans don’t see that; I watch every game live on TV and if not I come to the stadium but I do not make it a big deal. I have been teargased here at Nyayo and City Stadium, you never write that and no one sees it as well.

I have Moses and the team manager who are always watching because this is not a one-man show. I speak to Moses and the goal keeping coach gets to have a say on who has got the best form.

FP: What about the talk that you are not a hands-on man. Instead, you have been accused of being far from players, you report to training and drive off immediately when done?

BW: On the contrary, I speak to every player in camp and whoever comes with a problem. I am the other helper. I do not want to be on their shoulders when they are resting. These are adults who should be professional enough to know what to do. I keep my distance. This is a training camp, not a prison. You must give the boys time to relax.

That is my way of doing things. You have not won a match convincingly since signing for the team. Is it your tactics or the boys just don’t get your philosophy?

The reason I played two midfielders is because Collins and Wanyama have the ability to pair so well. I need to have midfielders who are good on the attack and can also defend when there is need. We have seen Wanyama score some good goals in England. For Collins, I did not select him because he got some beating after the last game and I have always told the players to keep off the media but I think it got him so badly that he has not been in the right state of mind. And he has been skipping some training days at Gor. That is why I dropped him. I feel for Wafula who did not have a good day in office the other day.

FP: What about fielding players who lack match fitness?

BW: I do not like to over train players because there is no need to get the injured looking for fitness levels that remain elusive. I cannot ask for a fitness coach because I only have the players for five days before every match. What miracle can one do with that? I will only select players on merit and if you do not play regular football, forget it. For now I only have Cheche (David) who is unattached, but he has been training with Gor and the other day he played so well against Rangers.

I must work with what I have so, it is the responsibility of every player to stay in the right shape and all Kenyans must work with me to ensure that your brothers do the right thing then we will get the results.