You can’t change fitness overnight says Simon

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Male’, MALDIVES – New Radiant’s newly appointed Coach Simon McMenemy has said that New Radiant need to improve their fitness and you can’t change it in overnight.

In an exclusive interview given to maldivesoccer.com Simon (36) said that it was tough task for him to improve the fitness of the players.

“The toughest thing that we will face is that New Radiant is not in the season at the minute. And for whatever reason the previous coach did not leave the team in a great position in case of fitness. They are playing 60% of fitness where as Persipura and Churchill Brothers played 80% - 100% fitness.”

“So it makes my job very difficult. And fitness is one thing that you can’t change quickly. You can change tactic, you can change game and so on. But you can’t change fitness overnight. And this is why New Radiant should have done a proper preseason training ahead of AFC Cup.” Simon, former Philippines national team coach, said.

He also added that he is very pleased to work in the Maldives.

“I am very pleased to work in the Maldives. Amazing place to work and its very lucky to work in such a beautiful environment. I am very pleased to learn the culture and meet new people. And it would help me to motivate the players and try to make them better players.”

When asked about the differences between the Maldivian players and other players that he had worked with, he said that most of the Maldivian players speak in English and it makes his job easy.

“The biggest difference for me is that most of the Maldives players speak English and this makes my job easy. Wherever I had worked in the past, I had to use a translator and it’s very hard to communicate with the players.”

“I think the players are very technical and what I like most is the players like to learn and they want to fight.”

Simon also added that it was a tough challenge ahead of him as he has a huge responsibility to take New Radiant to the second round of the AFC Cup and especially when the club finished winning everything last season.

“A huge challenge for me. When you win everything and not lose a game and qualify for the quarter finals and it puts huge expectation on the shoulders of the new coach. But all I can do is that try to change things as quickly as possible."

Simon also have huge appreciation for Ali Ashfaq who scored 44 goals for New Radiant last season and former coach Velizar Popov. Simon said Ashfaq is a danger man for every team and is a proven goal scorer.

“Things are very different in last year. They had a good coach and they had a good pre-season and this year things are different.”

Simon also reiterated that even though they lost to Jayapura the team performed really well against them.

“Despite the score line we played quite well. When you take everything into consideration Jayapura, Indonesian champions played at home and it’s too far away. We played very well there and we should be proud of the way we played there. Lots of teams go there and lose by 5-0 or 6-0. But there are things that we need to improve.”

“I am hopeful that we have done the hard one. We have traveled to the other side of the world and now they have to come here and we can do a good job here.”

When asked about the possibility of extending his contract with New Radiant Simon said that there is always possibility for talks.

“There is always possibility. We will look what we have done in two months. I hope to do well in our next three games and to prove that I am a committed coach. It’s a discussion that we must have in the future. I will do what’s best for me and the club will do what’s best for the club. I want to make a change and improve the team even in two months.”

Simon also thanked New Radiant for the things that has arranged for him and said they are very professional when compared to his previous employees.

“I am just very pleased the way that New Radiant has welcomed me to the country. They are very professional compared to the other countries I had worked. Everything here is very easy for me. I am very impressed with New Radiant and looking for the first game.”