schwarzstarfc.com caught up with centre-back Satnam, who sportingly granted us this interview.

1) Hi Satnam, how have you been? You’ve been with SSFC for almost 2 years. What was your 1st impression when you first joined the team?

Hey, I’ve been great. First of all thanks for giving me the opportunity to do this interview. Wow! Has it been that long? I feel old. When I first joined SSFC, I was very impressed with the training and the commitment shown by the boys every week. It’s also encouraging that the boys have always supported and helped me out. Players like Leonie, Kevin and Thava always give me pointers and the fact that we have a licensed coach around to train us really made Sunday trainings more worthwhile.

2) What are some of the more memorable experiences you have with the club?

I can remember a few. Once was when we had a match in a horrible muddy pitch and I messed up completely and everyone was shouting at me. It made me want to give up football there and then, but wise words from Brandon convinced me to stick to it and improve. And I feel that today I have improved as a player and still have more to offer. I also remember the enjoyable time I had during the team chalet and futsal sessions. It is one of the most memorable times I have had in Singapore.

3) Now that the SSFC Competitive Team will be plying their trade in the upcoming D2D Saturday 5pm League, what are your views on it and what goals would you be setting for yourself. How do you see yourself contributing to the team?

I am really looking forward to compete in the league. I believe it’s a good learning experience for the team; for us to grow stronger and to learn to work together as a unit. It will also give us the much needed pressure to perform well in the league. I’m looking forward to contribute as well. As the competitive team has only a few centre backs, I hope to cement my place in the team and grow to become a solid wall of defense although I’m still learning to do so under the guidance of our Coach.
My Goals are to defend well, keep clean sheets and organize the team well. Being a senior player, I am responsible for commanding the team and to make myself heard. I enjoy playing with the competitive team and its great playing week in and out with the lads and fellow seniors like Melvin and Yen.

4) The past few matches and training sessions saw a leaner and meaner you. What’s your secret? What inspired you?

I think it’s just hard work and determination. I go to the gym almost every weekday doing squats and deadlifts, eating healthy by cooking my own food. Also, with some help from my personal trainer friend, I managed to lose a few pounds and gain some muscle. Sadly I don’t fit into my jersey anymore. I think the fact that a fitter me would perform better for the team was a big factor that inspired me to lose weight. I knew that being able to run faster, longer and have more strength to harass opponents would help me to improve my game.

5) What are your future plans with SSFC and what would you like to see in terms of the development of SSFC such as in training or in management?

I hope to perform well in the D2D league with the Competitive Team and hopefully participate in more leagues and further improve as a player. I might not be around much longer as I may have to return home to Malaysia. But, I would love to see SSFC playing in the S-league. I don’t think it’s impossible because we have a good foundation and have accomplished so much in the past years. As the Adidas slogan goes, ‘Nothing is Impossible’.
As far as improvements go, management wise, SSFC is on sound footing. But I would like to see more intense training and more selective training to players so that we can further improve. Perhaps, stuff that is shown on ‘www.insidesoccer.com’. I think it will help the team.

schwarzstarfc.com caught up with Coach Kenneth mid-season and spoke on this year’s target, the SS training platform and what SS has to do to be considered a leading team in the local scene.

1) It has been a topsy-turvy season so far. What is your target for the rest of the season?

Whenever I lead the team in a league match, I want to “will” the team to win. Winning is a habit and a joy. So no point make losing a habit.

Another objective for this year is to get the team to improve upon the execution of the discover playmakers program. I have had this program as my guiding light and so my objective is for my players would be able to feel the efficacy of this program.

2) You were away for 2 months from the league team, have you recharged and refined your strategy for the remainder of the season?

Definitely, if not, my absence would have been in-vain. There were reasons why the past few performances were not as expected and if I were to come back and do the same thing, then we will only get the same old results.

I want my players to play without fear, without handbrakes on. I would “lead and will” the players and leaders of the team to start to impose their individualism and yet be able to play together to the SS strategy.

3) SS has a big squad, who are the players that you feel will come through the ranks this year?

There are players who are starting to shine but they must be able to find their “tipping point”.

On the other side of the coin, some players are finding it hard to take a step-up because they have difficulty dealing with their identity and understanding of what SS really means to them. They are good players in their own right, but have not progressed as a team player because they don’t realize how much they can contribute and how important they can be to this team. They too tend to rely on the coach.

Players who will stand out at the players who feel that they are important to the team. But the lack of a certain level of “professionalism”, to feel that the team actually depends on them, to walk into games big and strong with head held high, knowing that there are “fans” watching out for them, are some reasons how players fade away after getting to a certain level of their game.

4) Are you saying that they are losing their skills?

I want a player with a winner’s mentality who knows that he is going to win. Some players have not been able to progress because they play within themselves, they are not able to contribute to the fullest extend, they lack that command and control of themselves. They play like they want me to tell them and control what to do.

Players who receive a pointer from a coach and then expand on it, shows that they want to win. They express themselves on the pitch after discovering themselves. If a player can have this in his mind, and that his job is to make his team mates play better and look good… now that is a winning mentality.

A winning mentality is manifested in actions. It is natural.

They have to realize that there are quite a few eyes watching them when they put on the team’s jersey.

5) What is the “tipping point” that you are talking about? How do players achieve it?

Responsibility and accountability. These are not difficult words to understand or explain but these are difficult to execute. It is not about who informs who about being late.

It is about knowing what you do affects other players. And when that circle of responsibility and accountability among the players is complete. We get a team. When every player feels that it is his responsibility and to respect the other players and have fun in winning, we get a team.

When players turn up wanting to make his team mates play and look better on the pitch, we get a team.

6) What does SS have to do to be considered a leading team in Singapore?

You will agree with me that all leading teams have a successful playing strategy. This strategy has to be repeated. When 11 such players hit their tipping point, from being a normal good kick about Sunday team, we become a team worthy of being champions.

Exactly 2 years since his last POTQ, Kevin is still ever present in this team.

Kevin has been switched regularly between goalkeeper and attacker and his versatility and adaptability is instrumental in being POTQ Oct – Dec 2009. Also Kevin’s return of goals in the last 6 months of 2009 has been brilliant.

While the team was going through a rough patch in the last 3 months, Kevin’s out-standing contribution was in the match against Newton Heath. Kevin, having scored the goal in the first half, played GK in the second half. In this match, Kevin showed the responsibility towards the team when he saved a thumping shot over the bar in the dying minutes, winning the team 3 precious points, giving the demoralized team something to cheer about.

Kevin is a player who is able to hold his own and do his “own thing”, and for him to move one level higher within this team, Kevin will have to start “to make his teammates look good”, contributing more with his passing and movement for his teammates to be involved in play.

Congratulations to Kevin. Let’s all give an appreciative pat to Kevin when you see him as his enthusiasm in helping out within the team is exemplary and shouldn’t be ignored.

Thank you Kevin