FRENCH FOOTBALL LEGEND IN ADDIS
He was one of top defensive midfielders in the world. During his playing career, which ended at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Claude Makélélé Sinda also played for Nantes, Marseille, Celta de Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He won league titles in France, Spain and England, as well as the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League (UCL) during his time with Real Madrid. Makélélé was also part of the France National Team which reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is now assistant coach at Premier League club, Swansea City, since January 2017. Heineken invited Makélélé as a guest for the UCL final match which was screened at Hilton Addis Hotel. The French star also visited young players at the Ethiopian Youth Academy. Dawit Tolesa of The Reporter attended Makélélé’s press conference and compiled this Q&A. Excerpts:
You have played for Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG. What is the secret for your success?
Claude Makélélé: I started playing when I was young. I had the opportunity to play and my father helped me a lot and he taught me how to put extra efforts. All careers need personal effort for you to succeed. So, my father helped me from the beginning.
How do you describe the significance of football academies?
Regarding football academies, everything is all about hard work. I think Ethiopian football academies are going on the right track. For instance, Ethiopia is commonly known of athletics. Why? It is because of the hard work and sacrifices and this rewarded them international recognition. The world talks a lot about Ethiopian athletes. You need to apply the same thing to football; you need to help the kids by providing better education and facilities at schools. During my visit at the Ethiopian Youth Academy, I saw many young girls and boys who are overcoming challenges. Football gives a lot of passion and a can-do mentality. I think it is the best time to start football at early ages in academies, which at the end equips you with essential skills and experience.
You have been playing with so many renowned players. Who is your best teammate and what are the biggest achievements in your footballing career and regrets if there is any?
First of all I am so happy with my accomplishment in football. There are no regrets. I love the profession on top of the money I earn and the lifestyle it brought me. I believe that I have left my mark in football history. Now I need to give all that I have back to the people. I have finished my diploma to be a qualified manager. I have lots of mates in my footballing career and but if you ask me to name one player, it will be Zinedine Zidane. We played at Real Madrid and our national team together.
During your time there were Galactico players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and others. Do you consider yourself as a Galactico?
In my mind it is not about Galactico. The fans make you feel that you are a Galatico. It’s all about what you demonstrate on the pitch. I love football and I give everything that I have alongside with my friends. But talking about Galactico, for me, doesn’t make sense. All Galacticos will not win Ballon d'Or. Personally, I can only name three players that are Galactiocos and these are, Zidane, Ronaldo and Figo.
You were one of the top holding midfielders. Achieving that requires hard work and physical fitness. What do you advise Ethiopian players regarding physical fitness?
Being a midfielder is all about generosity. When you play as a midfielder you have to be generous. You have to be fit, active and consistent. Playing as a midfielder gave me a lot of lessons and helped me think about myself. We worked hard for hours and then get some sleep; this was the routine. Our alcohol consumption was limited and we were not allowed to drink a lot of alcohol and we worked hard towards our ambitions. So, those things make a player to be great on the pitch.
Who is the best midfielder for you right now?
There are two types of midfielders – offensive and defensive. I think people mostly prefer the offensive ones. It is because they score goals and assist. For me, the best player is N'Golo Kante. The way he plays pleases me. He is calm. He tries a lot to help his club in every match. He never speak bad thing about his partners. His personal behavior is exemplary to others and I hope he will have a great future.
You are currently assistant coach at Swansea City. Which one is the most difficult job? Playing or coaching?
I think coaching is more difficult. When you play, you focus on accomplishing your task like performance, scoring goals and assisting. On the contrary, coaching is all about managing skills and organizing a team. Being a manager is very tough because you never sleep. You think about the next game all night assessing how to stand best for the next game and what strategies to come up with. Many coaches often lose their weight because of the stress. As for me, I am a beginner. So, I want to give 100 percent of my energy and experience to young players.
This season you rescued Swansea City from relegation. What was the experience like?
Avoiding relegation felt far greater than winning the champions league. The English Premier League is the best league in the world and the most difficult one. You should have all the qualities. You should perform well, make scarifies and practice every day. So, you need to work hard, help players and make them believe that everything is possible. Avoiding relegation made fans and players very happy and that in turn made me happy. We did the job in a good way and the players developed a winning mentality in challenging situations. When players see your hard work, it gives them the strength and commitment and they will be encouraged to do more.
You have played in English, Spanish and French leagues. Which league and team is the best for you?
Actually, it’s difficult to name the best one. I travelled a lot and played in different leagues. It helped me a lot in pursuing decisive lessons and experiences. I played in England, Spain and France, but, Real Madrid is the best.
When you left Real Madrid in 2003, the club was struggling to get back on top level and many football analysts agreed that you were the engine of the club. Do you agree with that analysis?
One thing in Real Madrid is that the media makes the story. I left Real Madrid there were problems between my boss and I. If he trains you in a bad way, you can’t give him 100 percent energy. Then I decided to leave the club. Then, I joined Chelsea.
He was one of top defensive midfielders in the world. During his playing career, which ended at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Claude Makélélé Sinda also played for Nantes, Marseille, Celta de Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He won league titles in France, Spain and England, as well as the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League (UCL) during his time with Real Madrid. Makélélé was also part of the France National Team which reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is now assistant coach at Premier League club, Swansea City, since January 2017. Heineken invited Makélélé as a guest for the UCL final match which was screened at Hilton Addis Hotel. The French star also visited young players at the Ethiopian Youth Academy. Dawit Tolesa of The Reporter attended Makélélé’s press conference and compiled this Q&A. Excerpts:
You have played for Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG. What is the secret for your success?
Claude Makélélé: I started playing when I was young. I had the opportunity to play and my father helped me a lot and he taught me how to put extra efforts. All careers need personal effort for you to succeed. So, my father helped me from the beginning.
How do you describe the significance of football academies?
Regarding football academies, everything is all about hard work. I think Ethiopian football academies are going on the right track. For instance, Ethiopia is commonly known of athletics. Why? It is because of the hard work and sacrifices and this rewarded them international recognition. The world talks a lot about Ethiopian athletes. You need to apply the same thing to football; you need to help the kids by providing better education and facilities at schools. During my visit at the Ethiopian Youth Academy, I saw many young girls and boys who are overcoming challenges. Football gives a lot of passion and a can-do mentality. I think it is the best time to start football at early ages in academies, which at the end equips you with essential skills and experience.
You have been playing with so many renowned players. Who is your best teammate and what are the biggest achievements in your footballing career and regrets if there is any?
First of all I am so happy with my accomplishment in football. There are no regrets. I love the profession on top of the money I earn and the lifestyle it brought me. I believe that I have left my mark in football history. Now I need to give all that I have back to the people. I have finished my diploma to be a qualified manager. I have lots of mates in my footballing career and but if you ask me to name one player, it will be Zinedine Zidane. We played at Real Madrid and our national team together.
During your time there were Galactico players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and others. Do you consider yourself as a Galactico?
In my mind it is not about Galactico. The fans make you feel that you are a Galatico. It’s all about what you demonstrate on the pitch. I love football and I give everything that I have alongside with my friends. But talking about Galactico, for me, doesn’t make sense. All Galacticos will not win Ballon d'Or. Personally, I can only name three players that are Galactiocos and these are, Zidane, Ronaldo and Figo.
You were one of the top holding midfielders. Achieving that requires hard work and physical fitness. What do you advise Ethiopian players regarding physical fitness?
Being a midfielder is all about generosity. When you play as a midfielder you have to be generous. You have to be fit, active and consistent. Playing as a midfielder gave me a lot of lessons and helped me think about myself. We worked hard for hours and then get some sleep; this was the routine. Our alcohol consumption was limited and we were not allowed to drink a lot of alcohol and we worked hard towards our ambitions. So, those things make a player to be great on the pitch.
Who is the best midfielder for you right now?
There are two types of midfielders – offensive and defensive. I think people mostly prefer the offensive ones. It is because they score goals and assist. For me, the best player is N'Golo Kante. The way he plays pleases me. He is calm. He tries a lot to help his club in every match. He never speak bad thing about his partners. His personal behavior is exemplary to others and I hope he will have a great future.
You are currently assistant coach at Swansea City. Which one is the most difficult job? Playing or coaching?
I think coaching is more difficult. When you play, you focus on accomplishing your task like performance, scoring goals and assisting. On the contrary, coaching is all about managing skills and organizing a team. Being a manager is very tough because you never sleep. You think about the next game all night assessing how to stand best for the next game and what strategies to come up with. Many coaches often lose their weight because of the stress. As for me, I am a beginner. So, I want to give 100 percent of my energy and experience to young players.
This season you rescued Swansea City from relegation. What was the experience like?
Avoiding relegation felt far greater than winning the champions league. The English Premier League is the best league in the world and the most difficult one. You should have all the qualities. You should perform well, make scarifies and practice every day. So, you need to work hard, help players and make them believe that everything is possible. Avoiding relegation made fans and players very happy and that in turn made me happy. We did the job in a good way and the players developed a winning mentality in challenging situations. When players see your hard work, it gives them the strength and commitment and they will be encouraged to do more.
You have played in English, Spanish and French leagues. Which league and team is the best for you?
Actually, it’s difficult to name the best one. I travelled a lot and played in different leagues. It helped me a lot in pursuing decisive lessons and experiences. I played in England, Spain and France, but, Real Madrid is the best.
When you left Real Madrid in 2003, the club was struggling to get back on top level and many football analysts agreed that you were the engine of the club. Do you agree with that analysis?
One thing in Real Madrid is that the media makes the story. I left Real Madrid there were problems between my boss and I. If he trains you in a bad way, you can’t give him 100 percent energy. Then I decided to leave the club. Then, I joined Chelsea.
FRENCH FOOTBALL LEGEND IN ADDIS
He was one of top defensive midfielders in the world. During his playing career, which ended at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Claude Makélélé Sinda also played for Nantes, Marseille, Celta de Vigo, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He won league titles in France, Spain and England, as well as the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League (UCL) during his time with Real Madrid. Makélélé was also part of the France National Team which reached the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is now assistant coach at Premier League club, Swansea City, since January 2017. Heineken invited Makélélé as a guest for the UCL final match which was screened at Hilton Addis Hotel. The French star also visited young players at the Ethiopian Youth Academy. Dawit Tolesa of The Reporter attended Makélélé’s press conference and compiled this Q&A. Excerpts:
You have played for Chelsea, Real Madrid and PSG. What is the secret for your success?
Claude Makélélé: I started playing when I was young. I had the opportunity to play and my father helped me a lot and he taught me how to put extra efforts. All careers need personal effort for you to succeed. So, my father helped me from the beginning.
How do you describe the significance of football academies?
Regarding football academies, everything is all about hard work. I think Ethiopian football academies are going on the right track. For instance, Ethiopia is commonly known of athletics. Why? It is because of the hard work and sacrifices and this rewarded them international recognition. The world talks a lot about Ethiopian athletes. You need to apply the same thing to football; you need to help the kids by providing better education and facilities at schools. During my visit at the Ethiopian Youth Academy, I saw many young girls and boys who are overcoming challenges. Football gives a lot of passion and a can-do mentality. I think it is the best time to start football at early ages in academies, which at the end equips you with essential skills and experience.
You have been playing with so many renowned players. Who is your best teammate and what are the biggest achievements in your footballing career and regrets if there is any?
First of all I am so happy with my accomplishment in football. There are no regrets. I love the profession on top of the money I earn and the lifestyle it brought me. I believe that I have left my mark in football history. Now I need to give all that I have back to the people. I have finished my diploma to be a qualified manager. I have lots of mates in my footballing career and but if you ask me to name one player, it will be Zinedine Zidane. We played at Real Madrid and our national team together.
During your time there were Galactico players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo, David Beckham and others. Do you consider yourself as a Galactico?
In my mind it is not about Galactico. The fans make you feel that you are a Galatico. It’s all about what you demonstrate on the pitch. I love football and I give everything that I have alongside with my friends. But talking about Galactico, for me, doesn’t make sense. All Galacticos will not win Ballon d'Or. Personally, I can only name three players that are Galactiocos and these are, Zidane, Ronaldo and Figo.
You were one of the top holding midfielders. Achieving that requires hard work and physical fitness. What do you advise Ethiopian players regarding physical fitness?
Being a midfielder is all about generosity. When you play as a midfielder you have to be generous. You have to be fit, active and consistent. Playing as a midfielder gave me a lot of lessons and helped me think about myself. We worked hard for hours and then get some sleep; this was the routine. Our alcohol consumption was limited and we were not allowed to drink a lot of alcohol and we worked hard towards our ambitions. So, those things make a player to be great on the pitch.
Who is the best midfielder for you right now?
There are two types of midfielders – offensive and defensive. I think people mostly prefer the offensive ones. It is because they score goals and assist. For me, the best player is N'Golo Kante. The way he plays pleases me. He is calm. He tries a lot to help his club in every match. He never speak bad thing about his partners. His personal behavior is exemplary to others and I hope he will have a great future.
You are currently assistant coach at Swansea City. Which one is the most difficult job? Playing or coaching?
I think coaching is more difficult. When you play, you focus on accomplishing your task like performance, scoring goals and assisting. On the contrary, coaching is all about managing skills and organizing a team. Being a manager is very tough because you never sleep. You think about the next game all night assessing how to stand best for the next game and what strategies to come up with. Many coaches often lose their weight because of the stress. As for me, I am a beginner. So, I want to give 100 percent of my energy and experience to young players.
This season you rescued Swansea City from relegation. What was the experience like?
Avoiding relegation felt far greater than winning the champions league. The English Premier League is the best league in the world and the most difficult one. You should have all the qualities. You should perform well, make scarifies and practice every day. So, you need to work hard, help players and make them believe that everything is possible. Avoiding relegation made fans and players very happy and that in turn made me happy. We did the job in a good way and the players developed a winning mentality in challenging situations. When players see your hard work, it gives them the strength and commitment and they will be encouraged to do more.
You have played in English, Spanish and French leagues. Which league and team is the best for you?
Actually, it’s difficult to name the best one. I travelled a lot and played in different leagues. It helped me a lot in pursuing decisive lessons and experiences. I played in England, Spain and France, but, Real Madrid is the best.
When you left Real Madrid in 2003, the club was struggling to get back on top level and many football analysts agreed that you were the engine of the club. Do you agree with that analysis?
One thing in Real Madrid is that the media makes the story. I left Real Madrid there were problems between my boss and I. If he trains you in a bad way, you can’t give him 100 percent energy. Then I decided to leave the club. Then, I joined Chelsea.
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