Australian legend Hary Kewell was in India with his side Watford U-21 participated in the recently concluded Nagjee International Football Tournament. The Ex-Australian International had won the Uefa Champions League with Liverpool in 2005. While speaking to commentator Suman Chakravorty he revealed some unknown facts about him.
XT) Before coming to India what sort of conception you had about Indian football?
Ans) Not much.The only time I ever came across when we played 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. I think we won 4-0. But I think with the size and physicality of the game they can learn a little bit more but technically they can play.
XT) You have been the biggest star ever in the history of Australian football. According to you who has been the greatest player?
Ans) personally we have bigger and better player coming through Australian football than myself. And with the likes of Mark viduka, Lucas neil, Tim Cahill. Mark scharzer, Roy Emerson,Mark bresciano, I can keep on naming. But I hope that we have set a bar they can actuall go far beyond that. Rules are there to be broken.
XT) If you got an opportunity to coach an Indian side will you be available to do so?
Ans) well you have to get asked first. Like I said it’s been going two years now and I heard nothing but good staff. The players I have known have been involved. They said the first year it was little bit haywire because certain game are very fast you don’t have time to adjust. Like I said I love travelling and I like to keep on my toes.
XT) Your friend Luis Garcia and Josemi played for my side Atletico De Kolkata in ISL. Do you have any conception of those feeling? Have they shared anything with you?
Ans) Luis has. I Spoke to Luis when we played a charity match together and I asked what he is doing and I didn’t realize that he was playing out there. And it has shown as he now moved to the A-League. Obviously the Indian Super League is doing well.
XT) How was the night at the Istanbul in 2005?
Ans) On a personal side it was a nightmare because of what happened to me. But as a team performance it was probably the best team performance I have ever seen.
XT) After you have come to India a lot of Liverpool supporters across India have chanted by your name. What will be the message to them?
Ans) For me when you get support it always helps for probably the biggest team in the world. I know Liverpool have probably the biggest percentage of supporters here in India which is fantastic.I think playing for a club like Liverpool you need to get into a winning mentality straight way. A journey of football starts straight way.
XT) When you used to play for Liverpool they were one of the top contenders of the Premier League. What happened to them after it?
Ans) look I am starting my journey and I could see the difficult ness. It’s hard because sometimes some players are up some players are down and you gonna make sure everyone is feeling right at the moment. As far As Liverpool looks everything goes for a circle.I believe football goes for a circle. At times the EPL was the best league in the world then it moved to Spain, and then Germany had a little bit,back to Italy. I think Liverpool is just circling I think Klopp is gonna do very well in Liverpool. He got a great record. Give him time and he will surely succeed.
XT) One special moment which you cannot forget in your life?
Ans) One.I have many.as much as I love football but for me you got to be switched off from football because football can consume you. Moments for me are my family. My kids, moments of them being born is something for me that I never forget because I have been in a situation when I only though about football. As much as football moment for me it’s every moment of my football was a special moment. But if you talk about golden moments it’s my family.
XT) One painful moment which you want to forget?
Ans) Semifinal,Final. In Istanbul I came off injured. In FA Cup I came off injured. Got the red card in the World Cup. But look at the brightest moment. I remember Rafa Benitez coming to me and said” every time you get injured we win”. So you know sometimes like I said it’s not a bad as individual. It’s a team game. For me he knew how to get the best of me.
XT) Each and every sports persons have their superstitious belief. What was yours?
Ans) Interesting. Always believe I didn’t have any but then may be I believe I had some. Because if I think I don’t have them I have them. What I did was I have a routine when things don’t well I change something up. I think that would be a superstition.
XT) You have been a Liverpool legend. What kind of repentance you have when Watford called you as their youth coach not their senior team?
Ans) No .Things happened for a reason and I believe opportunities like this is too good to pass on. 1) Watford is a fantastic club itself.2) because it’s a premiership club. 3) The club wants to go somewhere. To be able to be part of that is phenomenal. Like I said I am learning and it’s a great place to learn. I have got decent footballers.They can play the game, understand the game It’s easy for me to go out there and coach them. go there and coaching. It’s a great place to start.
XT) One childhood memory you wanna go back.
Ans) You know I can remember my journey as a footballer. For the first time I said goodbye to my parents. They are very happy when I first signed for Leeds. I remember they stayed for two weeks and when they left we had a premiership game and I am saying goodbye as I know I wasn’t gonna see them for 9 months. I was sixteen at that time. As soon as they left I got upset for a minute. This is where my journey starts.
XT) As a coach who is your Idol.
Ans) I have had some great coaches in my life. Gerrard Houllier, George Bryan,Eddie Gray taught me a lot. Guss Hiddink who had been phenomenal. But for me one of the main was Frank Rijkaard. He has been phenomenal. The way he he saw, how it should be played I love that. I had a great time with him At Galatasaray.
XT) last question. One wish that hasn’t been fulfilled.
Ans) I can’t fly. If I could fly it make travel a lot easier (laughs).