Winning's good

His team was the toast of the nation when it won this year's Gulf Cup. But Bruno Metso's not the sort of guy who rests on his laurels. The UAE football coach tells Sara Sayed that he and his team are hungry for more victories.

Meeting the cordial, relaxed and confident Bruno Metsu, one would never guess that he was in the midst of preparations for an important game in just two days. The coach of the national team was in Abu Dhabi, preparing for the second leg match against Vietnam for the Asian qualifiers of the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa (a game that the UAE unfortunately lost).

A competent leader and strategist, Metsu has developed a unique combination of capabilities among them being the ability to see the big picture, measure and calculate the details and to connect with, communicate, motivate and inspire the team. He is very quick to point out, though, that it's the team that does the real work and the players who make the sacrifices – and that they are ultimately the ones responsible for winning each game.

Metsu has adopted the 'leader as servant' approach and has the competence and humility to make it work. He's had a passion for the game since he was 5 and was discovered by his teacher and placed in training at the age of 9. By 16, he was playing professionally. For 17 years he played football while simultaneously training young athletes until he hung up his boots and moved on to coaching.

When Metsu left France to coach the Guinea and Senegal teams, he was captivated by the spirit of Africa.

A true humanitarian and self-proclaimed rebel, his mission is to help end injustices that lower the quality of life in Africa and to dedicate his efforts to improving the lives of African children.

He points out that sport, particularly football, is universally loved and can be used as a way to unite countries, improve international relations, increase cultural understanding and create a more cohesive world. Of course, this won't happen overnight. But according to the coach, passion, hard work (to the point of suffering), stubborn commitment to achievement and belief that anything is possible will lead to success.

After the UAE's historic victory in the Gulf Cup, Metsu insists that he and the team are not dwelling on the past. They will move forward, working hard and taking on new challenges.

"For me, the fame and fortune associated with victory are not really motivators," he says. There is no better feeling than knowing that you are a part of the joy and pride that come with winning a game like the Gulf Cup. The moments after the game, kids ran up to the players on the bus, their eyes wide, gleaming with happiness, so thrilled and enthusiastic in their celebration. For me, that is everything. That is what motivates me. I cherish those moments."

"In order to win a football match each individual and the team collectively must believe it is possible. I think this applies to life in general. If you don't believe you can win, it won't happen.

There can be no fear. If there is fear [in you] then that is what you communicate involuntarily to yourself and others. People pick up on the fear and react to it. It is important to believe you can do it, believe it is possible, give it everything you have and work hard to win."

I

I truly believe that all sport, but particularly football, is a vehicle that can be used to achieve world peace.

I will never forget when Iraq won the Asian Cup. I was very happy for their victory. For a brief time, the entire country was united in happiness and celebration. It was a great achievement and a unifying force. Football is universally understood and loved. We need to do more to nurture the sport, particularly in developing countries.

I was very inspired by Jim Morrison as a youth. I think it's because he is a great musician, a poet and a rebel. I really admired his courage and talent. I am no poet or musician, but like Morrison, I often challenge the status quo, particularly when I see injustices happening around the world. In many ways, I consider myself a rebel.

First and foremost, I value family and friends. They rank far above material possessions. I have never been a materialistic person ... I prefer to live a simple life, doing what I love, surrounded by people I care about and enjoy the company of.

When coaching, I look at the big picture. I have a vision for the game. I do the calculations and I communicate this with the team. The team must have confidence in the coach and understand that they are an integral part of the game. It is the coach's job to point out errors without destroying confidence. It is a balancing act.

I think it's a key role for a coach to be able to answer the player's questions and reduce uncertainties to a minimum during a game.

Football is not only a physical sport, but also a highly mental and psychological sport. The players need to feel confident that the coach has everything under control. That is what I do. I answer questions, encourage the players during the game, keep them focused and eliminate fear of the unknown.

I have a real passion for football. It has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I think the game inspires children to dream and to achieve. If nothing else, it is the source of happiness for millions of people around the world. Kids playing on the streets or in fields, spectators, players ... so many people enjoy the sport in one capacity or another.

ME

Me and my childhood:

I was born in Coudekerque, northern France. I started playing football when I was 5 or 6. I played every day with my friends in the street. As long as I can remember, I loved the game. I spent every waking moment either playing the sport or thinking about it.

Football is a sport that is accessible to anyone who wants to pursue it. Children, regardless of their place in society or their economic status, can play football. All they need is a ball, some open space and a few friends.

Sports like tennis or golf require equipment and can be expensive to learn how to play. I think one of the reasons why football is the most popular sport in the world is because it is an enjoyable game that is inexpensive. It is open to everyone.

When I was 9, one of my teachers discovered that I had a talent for playing football. His name is Mr Daniel. I will never forget him and still visit him in the north of France whenever I am in the country.

He encouraged me to pursue my dream and helped me to enrol in the Football Academy in Dunkerque. When I began playing professionally, he came to the games, clearly proud of his discovery.

My father also loved to play and watch football, but he was a professional boxer. He did not really encourage me to take up football as a profession – it was my passion and I was self-motivated in my desire to succeed in it. I went to school at the football academy and we trained every Thursday – all day. I worked very hard, training, learning and practising the multitude of skills required to become a successful footballer from the best in the profession. It was a great education, delivered by experienced coaches and former players. I learned not only athletic skills but also life skills.

When I was 11, I organised my first team in our neighbourhood. I then went to other neighbourhoods and helped to put together their teams. After a short time, we were all playing games against each other.

Me as player and coach:

I played for Dunkerque until 1970, when at the age of 16 I began playing professionally for Anderlecht, a famous Belgian club. I played there for three years then returned to France to play for Valenciennes then Lille, Nice, Roubaix and Beauvais Oise. I learned a lot in my 17 years playing the sport.

The reason [I learned so much was because] I made so many mistakes along the way. There was no one big horrible mistake ... just a lot of little mistakes that I would think about and try to improve on. In football, once you make a mistake, it is over – you can't take it back. You miss an opportunity or mess up in front of thousands of people, who are very passionate, get angry and can be unforgiving.

Some believe that they could have done better and they sit and analyse the errors after the game. The only thing you can do is improve and resolve that you will do everything in your power not to let it happen again.

I began coaching in 1987 for Beauvais Oise as assistant, then became coach from 1988 to 1992. I then coached for Lille, Valenciennes, Sedan and Valence in France.

Me and Africa:

In 2000 I had the opportunity to coach in Guinea and then Senegal for two years. Africa had a profound effect on me from the moment I arrived. At first I could not help but notice and absolutely adore the colours, sounds and odours ... the total ambience of Africa. The sense of community and sharing truly touched me spiritually.

I love Guinea and Senegal. Senegal is a great country. I have a house there and visit the country whenever I can. When I began coaching in Africa, I soon realised that I needed to learn as much as I could about the team. I got to know each player as an individual.

I realised very early on that I had to change my way of doing things and communicate to suit the new culture and new team. I was just one person, interacting with 30 people ... it was easier for one person to change than 30 to change. So I had to adapt to my new environment before I could be effective.

In Africa I began to see things differently. I started to compare the cultures of Guinea and Senegal with those I was used to in Europe.

People in Africa are so giving and supportive of their neighbours. People in Europe seem to be more self-focused.

When I was growing up, I used to play with my friends and then we would all watch TV. Very few people had a TV, so we would all gather in one house to watch it. Now everyone has their own TV and other electronic devices that keep them from interacting with others.

Whereas in Africa, people still communicate and socialise daily.

People should experience life together, not in isolation. There are social and communal values in the UAE and Africa that Europe seems to have lost.

Me and the UAE:

In 2002 I started coaching the Al Ain team. After that, I spent two years in Qatar until 2006 when Al Gharafa, a great team that won numerous championships, was dismantled.

After a short time in Saudi Arabia, I was offered the opportunity to come back to the UAE in 2006 and coach the national team. I was very happy to return to the UAE. I already had many good friends, whom I consider to be like family. I love the life here. My neighbours come over and visit, and so do their children ... without notice or an appointment. We have a great time. They come over and watch the games. I can visit my friends without giving notice; their doors are always open. I love the informality of the social life here. Like Africa, people tend to be giving and gracious.

I have three boys. My oldest, Boris is 14, Enzo is 4 and Noah is 1. They don't play much football. Boris likes boxing, like his grandfather. He attends a French school and really loves it here.

MYSELF

What are your plans for the future?
For the next few years I want to stay in the UAE and in Senegal. I have purchased houses in both countries and have close personal ties to both places. Occasionally, I visit France to connect with friends and family but I now consider the UAE and Senegal to be my homes. I share my time between these two places.

I would like to become more involved in children's development projects in underdeveloped or developing countries. Anything that has to do with improving the lives of children in Africa would suit me.

What advice would you give children who are interested in playing professionally?
I would tell children to believe in their dreams, whatever they are, and follow those dreams to the very end. In other words: work hard to achieve your dreams. Be passionate about them and go to the end of the earth to fulfil them. I think that parents, if they can, should support their children and help them to realise their dreams. Parents should not tell children that their passions and dreams are not realistic, but instead they should [encourage them to] believe in the dreams. Often parents make the mistake of forcing children to fulfil their own [the parents'] goals in life. Parents should support the child's self-chosen passion. They should try to resist the temptation to live their own dreams through their children.

Are there facilities for developing youth here in the UAE, like the football academies in Europe?
I would really like to see a system here like that of Europe, where talented children are discovered and placed in a football academy where they must go to school and learn the sport at the same time.

In France part of a professional footballer's responsibilities is to train and develop talented youth. The academies have professional players who train youth as well as doctors, nutritionists, dieticians, sport therapists and many others who help the future professional learn to live the lifestyle of a successful player. It is a system that teaches them how to exercise, eat properly and take good care of themselves.

I would love to see a system like this develop young football players in the UAE. I would like to see a system where professional players in the region are obliged to train youth, and go one step further, opening schools for youth to be trained properly and in a holistic manner.

For now, the best clubs in the UAE for training youth that I know of are Al Ain and Al Wahda. Most professionals come out of these two clubs. These clubs have excellent facilities. All clubs can be like this. It is not a choice. We need to develop more clubs to ensure the future. It is a requirement.

What's next for the UAE national team?
Winning the Gulf Cup was a great milestone for the UAE team, but I don't believe that we should look back. It was a victory and now we have to work hard to win more games. Our goal is future victories.