Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Francis Awaritife Awaritife on life after football… Diegos: "Gees it just seems like yesterday that you arrived 'Downunder' for the first time, looking to make a name for yourself in Aussie soccer after having had a sterling career with Wimbledon reserves in the UK. One of your first experiences of Aussie soccer aggro was in the weekly beach soccer kick-abouts with the Diegos at Elwood beach all those years ago. That obviously acted as a tremendous springboard to a great NSL career. You've now announced your retirement from the game. How are you feeling?" Awaritife: "After reaching the heights of the Wimbledon reserves, coming over here was a bit of a shock to the system but my whole time in the NSL has been great. I've loved every moment of playing in Australia and probably lasted a lot longer than I thought I would as a footballer so it's been a lot of fun." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
At the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne you developed a reputation as a tearaway playboy goal machine whilst at Marconi and Sydney United, the Diegos reckon that you matured into a wily, man about the town, playboy goal machine. At what stages of your career do you believe that you were at your best?" Awaritife: "We'll try and confine it to soccer because you never know who could be listening. I think basically I was very lucky at each club I played for. I played at Melbourne Knights just when they were starting to become a power but it seems to me every time I leave a club they win a Grand Final as they did in the Knights case. At South Melbourne I played with some fantastic players and we had a great side with the likes of Tsolakis, Mickey Peterson, Tassios, Trimboli and Boutsianis doing their stuff at the time. At Marconi of course we had a good side there as well. It's just been a fantastic experience. I think I've been really lucky in that I also played in the league when the competition was very strong. I think those sessions on Elwood beach with the Diegos had by far the biggest effect on my career." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: "The much talked about SBS 'Insight' program during the week presented an expose of Soccer Australia and its running of the game in this country. It's no surprise to say that the report card was not good. From a former player's point of view do you feel angry / bitter / twisted that you haven't perhaps earned financially what you could've earned if the game was administered better in this country?" Awaritife: "Its not so much a money thing it's just the fact that the game hasn't had the recognition that it deserves to have. If you look at the profile and the recognition that the game has got worldwide it doesn't have that sort of recognition in Australia, which is a shame. Unfortunately that is mostly due to the political infighting that's blighted the game. We've basically short changed ourselves in this respect I believe." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: "You have been strongly involved in the Player's Union over the years. What future do you predict for Aussie players plying their trade in the NSL? Will it get a lot worse before it gets better in your opinion?" Awaritife: "To be honest the way the game is at the moment I can't see getting much worse. We've had seven clubs go into administration in the last five years and many others are currently in debt. So in my opinion I don't think the NSL will last more than two years the way it's going. Sooner or later it will collapse and fall in a heap and we'll find that teams will go back and play in state leagues. Unless there's a wholesale revolution I can't see it getting any better." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: "Some quickies… Best player you played against?" Awaritife: "Gees that's really hard to say, I played against so many good ones. I'll duck out of that one and say they're all difficult." Diegos: "Best coach?" Awaritife: "I think Zoran Matic. He had a big influence towards the end of my career at Marconi. He is a fantastic coach and I think if I had played under him a lot earlier in my career I think I would've won a lot more camps for Australia or played overseas." Diegos: "Was it the threat of being sent to Siberia that made you perform under him?" Awaritife: "No I just think he just had very strong view on how the game should be played. He picked up little things in my game that made a big difference to me even late in my career so I think he certainly has a knack to get the best out of his players." Diegos: "What will you miss the most?" Awaritife: "The competition and just getting out there every week against the best defenders. I'm sure a lot of them out there will miss me." Diegos: "What won't you miss?" Awaritife: "I won't miss the politics but having said that I'm pretty optimistic about the future." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: " A couple of weeks ago, very early on a Sunday morning, l switched on to Channel 7's 'Sportsworld' to catch some Aussie soccer action, and l saw what looked like Tracey Chapman strumming away on a guitar. After closer observation l realized it was you. Are you working away at being the next Milli Vanilli after you finish your soccer career or are you just having some fun between training sessions? Awaritife: " Just having some fun between training sessions actually. The difference between Milli Vanilli and me though, is that they couldn't play!" Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: "Marconi played the Adelaide Sharks a couple of weeks ago. Your former coach, the bloke with the best lamb chops in the business, Manfred Schaefer, led the Sharks that night. What's your attitude when you play against former coaches? Do you go out of your way to put in a performance that may cost them their job, just to pay them back for all the abuse they gave you when you were playing for them? Awaritife: " It's a bit different with former coaches. If the coach has given me the chop from a previous club, then l think I would go out and try to prove to him that I could play. But I really can't say that I've been in that position a lot. Generally l would treat it as a normal game because at the end of the day, you're playing against the opposition players out there and not the coach. Sometimes I find that l may have something to prove. I think in those cases, I'm certain that l would want to stick it up him." Diegos: " You've had some pretty diverse characters as coaches over the years - Ferenc Puskas, Zoran Matic, Manfred Schaefer just to name a few. This season Marconi has enticed their 'Prodigal Soccer Son', Frank Farina back to his former playing home to coach the team. Can you gives us an idea on how Frank approaches his coaching? Awaritife: " Frank is just basically using a lot of common sense. I don't think he is doing anything that a rocket scientist would do, he is just being logical in his approach and playing players were they can best contribute to the team. Basically he is a very good communicator. He let's you know what he is thinking and what he wants from you, and l think that is important because if you go out and not do what he wants, then obviously, you've only got yourself to blame." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " There are a lot of little kiddies out there who would like to grow up to score goals like Francis Awaritife. Can you give these budding soccer stars an idea of your ideal match day preparation? Awaritife: " I think it's a question of just relaxing. You obviously try and avoid doing too much. If you're married, l think you would try and get out of doing all the tasks like mowing the lawns, vacuuming the kitchen or washing the dishes because you can always claim that you've got to relax and that you can't expend your energy doing household chores on match day." Diegos: " It sounds like you've used that excuse before." Awaritife : " Oh yes, l use it all the time and I must say, I've got away with it for the last ten years. So whilst I'm still playing, I've got a very good excuse for not doing the chores on the weekends." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " A couple of weeks ago Marconi was involved in a very controversial affair with South Melbourne. It was a game that produced a number of send offs and bookings. We noticed with great interest that you kept clear of the trouble. The week before you scored what looked like a perfectly good goal that was disallowed, and you didn't argue with the ref. In the past you would have asked the referees the hard questions. What's happened, have you mellowed with age?" Awaritife: " Yes, l suppose that's true. Being one of the leaders in the team now, l can't afford to get involved with the referees. The trouble is that when you do get in the referee's ear it takes away from your own game. Its really funny, Zoran (Matic) and l had a big chat about it last year and l think as a result, l had my best year in terms of bookings. I've just decided to take a different approach. If the decision is made its made, you've got to let it go and concentrate on the next opportunity." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " You have appeared, however fleetingly, on Channel Seven's 'Sportsworld' Lightning Fast Soccer segment a couple of times on Sunday mornings. What are your thoughts on the extent of TV coverage that Channel Seven gives the game? Awaritife: " It's been a bit disappointing to be honest. In a way, we are getting less coverage now than when Aussie soccer was on SBS. We get 5 minutes on 'Sportsworld', there is no highlight's package to speak of, and the whole thing seems to be all over the place. Soccer Australia must do something to sort it out. It's a real shame that we've got to wait a whole week to see the highlights package or the goals on the ABC. I don't think that that is acceptable." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Awaritife: " Northern Spirit is doing very well. I think from day one, the impressive part of the operation has been the way the club has gone about marketing themselves to a target audience. I went to watch them play Wollongong a couple of weeks ago. To be honest it wasn't much of a game but in terms of the atmosphere it was great. It was good to see a lot of young kids waving Spirit flags and wearing Spirit T - Shirts. It was a very good spectacle and hopefully when they get their act together on the pitch, they will be in a very good position to really take off." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999 |