He earned the necessary certification to lead a professional local club six years ago. But the opportunity never came for Khidhir Khamis, until now.
The 33-year-old will take the reins of Balestier Khalsa for the upcoming Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, after Tigers coach Marko Kraljevic left two weeks ago to coach Malaysia Premier League side Kelantan.
This makes him the youngest Singaporean head coach appointment in the 24 years of the SPL and its predecessor, the S-League which started in 1996.
Five-time champions Tampines Rovers had announced in December that they intended to appoint Gavin Lee, 28, as head coach once he gains his 'A' licence, which he will attempt to earn this year. Until then, he cannot hold the title.
The youngest local before Khidhir was Shasi Kumar, who was a year older when he led Woodlands Wellington in 2010.
Khidhir, who previously coached age-group teams at Tanjong Pagar United and Geylang International - where he also had a stint as head of their youth programme - until 2013, is relishing the opportunity to return to elite football coaching.
He had applied for several posts but "the doors just did not open", said the Victoria School alumnus, who had been coaching at schools and private academies.
He is now relishing starting on "something new and exciting" with Balestier.
Khidhir received his Asian Football Confederation 'A' Licence - which is mandatory for locals to take charge of SPL clubs - in 2013 at the age of 27. At the time, he was said to be the youngest Asean coach to hold the standard.
Balestier chairman S. Thavaneson said that eight candidates had applied for the role, half of whom were foreigners. But he had no qualms picking a local rookie to replace Kraljevic, who had been the Tigers' coach since 2014, and led the club to a first Singapore Cup that year before being named the S-League's Coach of the Year.
"Our local coaches, I think, have over the years stepped up and been able to hold their own in the SPL," said Thavaneson, who is also one of four vice-presidents in the Football Association of Singapore.
"I think more young local coaches will make the grade, provided they are given that opportunity.
"We, the management of local clubs, must have that... trust in local coaches and help them develop. Because helping them develop helps develop Singapore football too."
Khidhir knows his age will raise eyebrows. After all, he is only a year older than Balestier's oldest player, goalkeeper and captain Zaiful Nizam.
RESPECT IS KEY
It's about how you manage the players. I've made it clear that... (they should) not cross the line between player and coach, even though we are about the same age.
KHIDHIR KHAMIS, Balestier Khalsa's 33-year-old coach, on the small age "gap" between him and his players.
"It's about how you manage the players," said Khidhir, with a cool smile. "I've made it clear that... (they should) not cross the line between player and coach, even though we are about the same age.
"And I think they are professional enough to manage and handle themselves in that sense."
Khidhir, who visited the famed French training centre Clairefontaine at his own expense in 2013, plans to leverage on technology for a "more visual" approach to transferring knowledge to players. He is also exploring the feasibility of filming training sessions.
With "nothing to lose" in his first major coaching stint, he is keen to build on the work Kraljevic had done - Balestier finished sixth in the nine-team SPL last season - and try get the Tigers playing a more expansive game, although he was not ready to make any predictions yet.
Borrowing Nelson Mandela's famous quote, Khidhir said: "As far as I see it, we'll go into matches and we're either going to win, or learn."
Premier League leaders Manchester City recovered from two goals down to beat Championship side Swansea City 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals. Having secured a last-eight spot in the Champions League. to go with their League Cup title, City made a strong start as they looked to continue their quest to
Man City come from two goals down to reach FA Cup last four
Blues manager Maurizio Sarri hails Higuain-Hazard partnership
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety. 12 Apr 2019. AFP / Adrian DENNIS Newcastle's Ayoze Perez heads the winner at Leicester.
Perez heads Newcastle towards safety - premierleague.com
Record 3.57 billion watch FIFA World Cup 2018, 1.12 billion tune in for France vs Croatia final The report further stated that the total viewership included 309.7 million people who followed matches through digital platforms. 231.82 million out of home and digital viewers tuned in for the final.
More than half the world watched record-breaking - fifa.com
Football: Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp Klopp applauds the fans as Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum and Fabinho celebrate at the end of a match. PHOTO: REUTERS
Liverpool laying groundwork for sustained success, says Klopp
Rescuers try to recover body from Sala's plane, Football News
Wood double gives Burnley win over Cardiff in relegation scrap By Simon Evans Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Cardiff City - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - April 13, 2019 Cardiff Citys Bruno Ecuele Manga in action with Burnleys Chris Wood REUTERS/Andrew Yates BURNLEY, England, (Reuter
Soccer-Wood double gives Burnley win over Cardiff in
Moussa Sissoko unaware Spurs advanced to UEFA Champions League semis after Raheem Sterling goal disallowed Description: Moussa Sissoko, who was replaced in the first half after he picked up an injury, was so distraught after Raheem Sterling scored that he immediately walked down the tunnel to the dressing room.
Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced - gulfnews.com
REIMS, France (Reuters) - Ada Hegerberg was not needed as Norway kicked off their women's World Cup Group A campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Nigeria on Saturday
Soccer: Hegerberg-less Norway canter past Nigeria | News
Football: Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the match. PHOTO: AFP
Man City suffer shock Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace
Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored PSG's goals in their first outing since their disastrous exit from the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of
PSG win in first outing since Champions League nightmare
Newcastle United's Spanish striker Ayoze Perez (R) heads home the opening goal under pressure from Leicester City's English-born Jamaican defender Wes Morgan (2nd R) during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on April 12, 2019.
Perez heads Newcastle closer to Premier League safety
Read more about Pele 'recovering well' after kidney stones surgery on Business Standard. A Brazilian hospital says Pele is "recovering well" after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. The Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement Friday that the 74-year-old Pele remains in good condition a day after the procedure in Sao
Pele 'recovering well' after kidney stones surgery
0 comments:
Post a Comment