Sunday, Nov 03, 2013
Abu Dhabi: Aad de Mos, the Dutch Football Association’s consultant for junior and youth teams, is one of the high-profile coaching figures attending the ongoing Fifa Under-17 World Cup in the UAE. He is no stranger to the Emirates, having been the country’s national team coach between 2004 and 2006.
In an interview with Gulf News, De Mos expressed his admiration for the South American and African teams here putting great emphasis on youth football.
Prior to their quarter-final exits, De Mos said he fancied Brazil and the Ivory Coast to lift the coveted trophy, while also tipping Nigeria to shine.
Gulf News: What brings you back to the UAE?
A: I came to watch the different methods of nurturing young, talented players in different countries and the new trends of the game.
Q: Why is your country, the Netherlands, not at this event?
A: It was a sad surprise for us when our team failed to make it to the event from the European qualifiers. In fact, it is about time that not only Holland but most of the other European countries started putting more emphasis on developing young players.
It is a fact that most of the time only teams from South America or Africa are the favourites to win the title of the Under-17 World Cup because these players are keen to show their best to attract scouts from Europe to open the way for them to play professional football and earn big money.
It strange that when European football has all the attention of the world, the European countries pay little attention to the sector of juniors and look outside their borders for talent.
Q: Who do you think will win the tournament?
A: I believe it will be a tough battle between the South American sides and Nigeria.
Q: What are your thoughts on the UAE team and their first-round exit?
A: I think that losing their first match against Honduras made the players lose self-confidence and concentration. And, bearing in mind the good results they enjoyed in their pre-event training camp in Spain, they believed that they were capable of beating Honduras. But, when they lost the opener, they panicked in all matches, especially after they met Brazil in the second match before recovering from the shock of losing the opener.
But I am sure that there is a good future for the juniors in the UAE because I have visited the UAE FA and seen the plans they have for the juniors and they are first class and will surely achieve great improvement for the game in the near future.
Q: Which players have caught your eye at the event?
A: The Brazilian defender Auro, who is a really good player, and I do believe that he will soon be in the first team and play in the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil’s striker Nathan also reminds me of the former Chelsea and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola.
By Yasir Abbasher Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
