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CHICKEN Inn coach Joey Antipas (JA) wrote his own piece of history last week by winning his second Premier Soccer League title in five years with two different teams. Mafero, as Antipas is affectionately known, won his first PSL title with Motor Action in 2010. Chronicle Sport Senior Reporter Ricky Zililo (RZ) had a lengthy chat with Antipas on Wednesday at his Selbourne Brooke residence in Bulawayo.
Below is the full interview:
RZ: Mafero, let me first start by congratulating you for winning the championship. Tell me how it feels.
JA: It’s a good feeling winning the championship with Chicken Inn. Of course, it’s a small team but we managed to win. It’s a great feeling also for Bulawayo as you know the fans from the city have gone for nine years without a championship. So it’s great that Chicken Inn has broken that spell.
RZ: If I can take you back; when and where did you start coaching?
JA: I used to work for CIMAS, a medical aid company in the 1990s, and they had a team in Harare’s Division Two. It was after I had hung my boots that I decided to keep myself involved in the game. Because of the passion for the game, I decided to help the young players. So you can rightfully say I cut my coaching teeth at CIMAS.
RZ: And after CIMAS, which club did you go to?
JA: From CIMAS I moved to Arcadia United, who were in Division One, and worked under Charlie Jones. Eric Rosen was in charge at Arcadia United then. When Rosen formed Motor Action in 2000 after buying Black Pool’s PSL franchise in 2000, I joined his team and assumed assistant coaching duties to Ashton “Papa” Nyazika and later worked under the late Shaky Tauro.
RZ: What influence did these gentlemen have on your coaching career?
JA: They were all passionate about the game just like I was.
RZ: When you started coaching, did you really think you were going to make a career out of coaching or it was just a part time job?
JA: When I started it was more of a part time job, but one thing led to the other and I decided to make a career out of coaching and started attending courses to prepare myself for this demanding yet enjoyable job.
RZ: You touched on the issue of attaining coaching courses, what qualifications do you hold?
JA: I’m a holder of a CAF B Coaching Licence. I have also been improving myself by attending overseas attachments, with the first being at Borussia Dortmund in 2012 followed by another one at Danish side Brondby in 2013.
RZ: You had already won the championship with Motor Action in 2010 when you went for those attachments, what influence did they have on your appreciation of the game and leading Chicken Inn to the title?
JA: I would say my trip to Germany really opened my eyes. When I went for my attachment at the Borussia Dortmund’s first team, Jurgen Klopp was still in charge and that experience really inspired me. The Germans are so organised; the training methods and philosophy is really out of this world.
RZ: Having been to Europe, do you think it’s difficult to coach in Zimbabwe compared to Europe?
JA: Coaching is universal. Europeans have better facilities; they have practically everything compared to us, who have to do a lot of improvising.
RZ: You have a reputation for turning ordinary players into champions; you did it at Motor Action and now with Chicken Inn. What is your trick?
JA: Personally I prefer working with minnows, players who are not known, and I push them into making a name for themselves; something which entails a lot of hard work and sacrifice. It’s all about changing the mentality of the player compared to working with big names who think they know it all.
RZ: How do you change the mentality of a player to suit the style of play you prefer?
JA: My philosophy is to build the confidence of a player and try to make the player believe in himself. I try to encourage my players to stick to the basic techniques and the response I got from the Chicken Inn players was magnificent. Last year we were building and come 2015 we are champions. I give credit to the players who accepted me and my philosophy.
RZ: What of players’ social behaviour?
JA: We have had a couple of incidents when a player gets into off field problems and it affects their game, but I always remind my players, especially the youngsters like George Majika, Toto Banda and Devine Lunga, that they have a bright future. All they need to do is stay focused.
Social challenges will always be there and it all depends on how one deals with them. I’m not really a fatherly figure, but I’m their friend, although definitely not their best friend.
RZ: You spent most of your time in Harare and have only lived in Bulawayo for two years. How do you find life in Bulawayo?
JA: At first I struggled to adapt to the Bulawayo lifestyle, especially being here alone with the family in Harare. Now I’ve settled and some call me ‘umjida wase Makokoba’. I have now adjusted and am quite happy.
RZ: Does it mean you will continue coaching in this city?
JA: Oh, yes! Actually I’m looking forward to a better 2016.
RZ: As a coach, you certainly love challenges. What’s your next target? Could you be eyeing a coaching job at any of the country’s big teams?
JA: Like any coach, I dream of coaching a big club and in this instance there are two big clubs in Zimbabwe, Dynamos and Highlanders. The problem with coaching big teams is lack of patience from the leadership of such big clubs. You see, at Chicken Inn, I struggled for the first six months in the 2014 season, but they kept faith in me. However, I’m a man and I would choose Bosso over DeMbare and if the deal is right, I will join Highlanders.
RZ: Why Highlanders and not Dynamos who are closer to home?
JA: Highlanders are going through a rebuilding phase and have younger players compared to Dynamos. I like working with youngsters, who are still ambitious unlike the big-name players who feel they know everything.
RZ: Bosso don’t have a coach right now; can you jump ship?
JA: certainly not now but some other time. The only problem is that we’re going to Africa and I can’t let down the boys whom I’ve developed a strong bond with. Had the club said we were not going and Highlanders came in with a good offer, I could have jumped ship because I love Bulawayo and I’m really feeling at home. Now I’m concentrating on assembling a strong Chicken Inn squad that will compete in Africa and try to defend the title.
RZ: You talk about the African Safari, teams like Monomotapa, Gunners, Mwana Africa and Motor Action folded after continental participation.
How do you hope to balance things after the CAF Champions League?
JA: As a matter of fact, we’ve been speaking to some players whose contracts are running out at their respective clubs and are keen to join us. I can’t say their names but we’re beefing up the squad. We need players for every position. I think if we get three or so players with African Safari experience we will be home and dry. When you’re playing in Africa, you need a big pool of players, but unfortunately with the PSL rules of having 25 senior players and five juniors, it becomes tricky, especially if you get injuries. However, as a coach who likes to gamble, I will give the Under-20 players game time so that they gain exposure. I’ve no qualms about using juniors and this group is blessed because their chances of playing are good considering that some guys will need rest from Africa when they come home.
RZ: You won’t have your key players, captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, Edmore Chirambadare, Lawrence Mhlanga and Elvis Chipezeze in January as they will be with the Warriors at Chan, will it affect your Champions League preparations?
JA: I’m one person who doesn’t like to stop players from moving. If they impress at Chan and get snapped that will be great for their careers and families. It will present an opportunity for others to come in and shine.
RZ: Will you defend your title next season?
JA: If we keep our squad intact, we will be challenging again.
Online Reporter