Kuwait coach Jorvan Vieira has a proven winning formula having masterminded Iraq’s historic 2007 AFC Asian Cup success, but the Brazilian is not planning to rest on that past achievement ahead of Wednesday’s draw for the next year’s continental championship in Australia.
Vieira left no stone unturned over the previous two months prior to the 2007 tournament, and his commitment was rewarded as Iraq overcame much-publicised problems in their war-torn homeland to edge out Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final thanks to Younus Mahmood’s now iconic header in Jakarta. But having been appointed coach of 1980 AFC Asian Cup champions Kuwait in August, Vieira knows he must adapt his strategy for next year’s tournament, a task which will become easier after Wednesday’s AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 draw at Sydney Opera House.
“You can never stop learning even if you are a champion. In Australia the philosophy and methodologically could be close to 2007, but you need some changes as I am now working with Kuwait,” said Vieira. “There are different social levels and different ways of life. As a coach you have to push them towards you, not make them adapt to you. You have to come down to their level and take their hand and bring them to your position.” In 2007, Iraq won Group A with an unbeaten record after drawing with Thailand and Oman either side of a 3-1 win over Australia. Crucially that meant Iraq remained in Thailand for their quarter-final with Vietnam, which Vieira’s side won 2-0 against the co-hosts.
And after edging out Korea Republic on penalties following a goalless draw in Kuala Lumpur, Iraq headed to the Indonesian capital for their subsequent date with destiny. “The secret was not to sleep. Even early in the morning I would be looking around the floors to make sure everything was OK,” added Vieira, to date a veteran of over 25 club teams and numerous national sides spread across over 30 years of coaching. “I would go in the players’ room and drink tea with them to give them confidence. This is my way, but with this way I have won many titles.”
Kuwait possess a rich history in the AFC Asian Cup having lifted the title in 1980 either side of a runner-up finish and a third place finish, while they also returned to the semi-finals in 1996 and the quarter-finals four years later. They did fail to advance past the group stage in their last two appearances in 2004 and 2011, but with domestic football thriving following the all-Kuwait 2013 AFC Cup final, hopes are high of a return to the knockout stage in Australia. Kuwait have been seeded fourth alongside Bahrain, DPR Korea and the winner of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup ahead of Wednesday’s draw, meaning Vieira could be reunited with Iraq in the group stage. Hosts Australia, defending champions Japan, Iran and Uzbekistan have been seeded first, with Korea Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in pot two and Oman, China, Qatar and Iraq seeded third. “Any group will be difficult. The draw is the draw. Nothing happens because you want it to happen. You have to prepare yourself and we are ready to play against anyone. All the big teams have qualified, there are no real surprises,” added Vieira. “It will be a very interesting Asian Cup and we have to prepare very well mentally and physically. If you are prepared mentally and physically you can move ahead, this was the key in 2007. We prepared them mentally and physically because at the time it was a complicated time in Iraq as there was a war, and the result you know.”
Clique aqui para ler a notícia no Boxscorenews.com