- Getting out of the group at next year's Asian Cup is the aim for German coach
- Syria only narrowly missed out on making it to the World Cup
DUBAI: Bernd Stange is no stranger to conflict. During a tumultuous two-year spell in charge of Iraq between 2002 and 2004, he watched helplessly as the country was ravaged by war. When Stange first took charge of the national team, Saddam Hussein was in power; when he left, the dictator had fallen.
A glutton for guerre or a man without fear — either way, the German coach is at it again. At the helm of Syria, Stange has already experienced a bomb going off in Damascus as he attended a match and has traveled extensively around the country, witnessing first-hand the devastation of Syria’s seven-year civil war.
It may seem crazy that, at the age of 70, Stange decided to put himself, quite literally, in the firing line again. Not least because the role is one of football’s most controversial, given the team’s links with the
regime of Bashar Assad and accusations of being a mercenary that may come his way because of it. But when Syria came agonizingly close to qualifying for a first World Cup last November, the German saw a spirit that impressed him and made him believe that a tilt at next year’s Asian Cup would be worthwhile and act as a unifying factor in a deeply divided and troubled country.
“It’s a challenge of course but my motivation was to prepare this team for the Asian Cup,” Stange told Arab News. “I completely took the war out of my mind and all political discussions too — these are difficult to understand even when you live in Syria.
“It is very tough to comprehend what has happened in this country — from north to south to east to west. Every day a new story of violence but you have to be absolutely focused on your job.”
That is not easy given the instability in Syria at present but Stange insists he has taken some valuable lessons from his time as Iraq coach.
“You must speak only about football and then you can achieve something. Players are very motivated to give their best in these situations so you must try to forget all the other things around you. It is difficult. You are in danger as a coach.
“The media is the biggest problem you have. If you say just one word — even if it is a word of kindness — someone can change the headline and then you are broken. Speak only about football.”
While Stange always attempts to distance himself from politics, it has often been impossible; on his travels around Syria, the German coach has often been confronted by destruction.
“We found ways to go to places like Aleppo and Latakia. But sometimes you go home and you are of course depressed when you see what is happening. I was born after World War II in Europe but I didn’t know what war means. I only saw war for the first time in Iraq – I saw people dying.
“Now it is a similar situation in Syria and it is natural that you will become depressed. If you see these destroyed cities like Douma and Ghouta, like Aleppo and Homs, you cannot say one word. You think, how many generations will it take to come back to normal life?”
Stange’s decision to visit some of the most dangerous corners of Syria is driven by a desire to unearth the country’s rough football diamonds. While the majority of Syria’s first XI ply their trade abroad, the German believes that exploring domestic options could add value to his squad.
“I have been watching many games — in Aleppo, in Latakia, in Damascus. All over the country. I have watched second division games and under-23 games. I feel there are some unknown talents who can make it.
“They are not ready yet because that level is more focused on fighting spirit — they play with big hearts. They are running like horses for 90 minutes. The technical qualities are not as high but you have to respect the mentality of those players. It is very difficult to beat them.
“I believe I have found a handful of players who can even make the final 23 for the Asian Cup.”
Those players will be put through their paces in a training camp this summer in Europe, during which Stange is aiming to expand and develop his talent pool.
“We will go to Austria for a two-week camp focused on Syrian players. I will take 23 players to Europe and we will play teams like Red Star Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest — to show them this style of football.
“These are the substitutes at the moment — not the first team. But I want to have 30-35 players ready for the Asian Cup. This is my job and that’s why I want to get every single advantage I can get. I am planning on preparing a top team for this competition.”
At the continental showpiece in the UAE next January, Syria will come face-to-face with World Cup conquerors Australia, as well as near neighbors Jordan and Palestine. Iraq’s 2007 Asian Cup triumph demonstrated what can be achieved even against the backdrop of war, but Stange insists that simply getting through to the last-16 is his initial target.
“I will never say we will win the Asian Cup but we want to make the next stage, to get out of the group. It’s a tough group. You have Australia and two derbies in Palestine and Jordan.
“The players are very emotional in this part of the world and I have to make sure they are focused on their game. I will try to do my job and I will prepare the team with all that I’ve learned in Iraq and other countries to keep them under control and prepared.
“Of course, you cannot teach them confidence. Confidence comes from results and confidence comes with signing great contracts — if you become a millionaire at clubs in the Middle East.
“I won’t forget that three years ago I beat Syria with little Singapore. They were on a much worse level. You think, ‘there is war so it understandable’. But what this team did the last three years, it’s amazing and it comes from themselves. I want to harness that.”
Stange may be playing down his side’s chances but their near-miss in World Cup qualifying showed that Syria’s players have the talent and tenacity to defy expectations. One star who will be key to Syria’s chances of bringing a smile to a country ravaged by war is Omar Khribin. The Syria star plays for Al-Hilal and was was named Asian Player of the year.
“Football has a chance — it is not the most important thing now in Syria. But football is where we are able to make people smile. After the World Cup playoff, the whole city of Damascus was cheering. Even though they failed to qualify, the people were so proud of their team.
“The Asian Cup is our next chance to make people happy.”