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From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Wed Jul 06 2011 - 08:36:04 EDT
http://af.reuters.com/article/eritreaNews/idAFB38607520110630?sp=true
FEATURE-Soccer-Goitom
takes Spanish “tiki-taka” to Sweden
Jun 30, 8:02 am EDT
(Repeats feature first moved at 0002 GMT)
By Philip O'Connor
STOCKHOLM, June 30 (Reuters) - The dazzling play of Brazil's 1970 World Cup
winners has been the benchmark for soccer brilliance for more than 40 years,
but recent Spanish dominance at club and international level is drawing
favourable comparisons with Pele's old masters.
As players and coaches around the world seek to emulate what they see on
television, the influence of Spain's "tiki-taka" short-passing style is
spreading, as evidenced by a newly-born suburban club in Sweden's capital.
Kista Galaxy have been formed by a Swede with first-hand experience of what
current Spanish soccer is all about -- Henok Goitom of Almeria, who last
season lost four times to Barcelona in cup and league, scoring once and
conceding 19 goals.
Goitom, who was born in Stockholm of Eritrean extraction, has played in
Spain for the last six years and appreciates how Spanish soccer has
transformed itself, ending years of under-achievement with victories in the
World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League and last
weekend's European Under-21 championship.
All this success has come through a golden crop of players employing their
short-passing "tiki-taka" style, which reached stunning heights at club
level when Barcelona destroyed Manchester United in last month's Champions
League final to become European champions for the third time in six seasons.
When Goitom looked around for a club in Stockholm that played the kind of
technical football he admired he could not find it. So he started one
himself. The idea was more about philosophy than results, but the results
have not been at all bad.
"If we in Sweden have accepted that Spain or England or Italy are better,
why don't we try to copy their style? That's what I'm trying to do here,"
Goitom told Reuters in an interview.
Together with his family and friends, Goitom started Kista Galaxy with the
intention of harnessing local talent and teaching them to play fast,
technical football.
"We started it to play football as we want to and train exactly as we want
to, and no one can say to us 'this is wrong' or 'that is wrong'. If we
succeed or not it's up to us, we don't have to take anyone else into
account.
"Take the example of the Barcelona or Arsenal model -- even if it's very
difficult to teach, you can at least try. If you fail that's another issue,
but you should at least try. "
BOTTOM RUNG
Having entered the Swedish League pyramid on the bottom rung, Galaxy
currently sit atop the table following an unbeaten run through the first
half of the season.
Eight promotions lie between them and the top-flight Allsvenskan but, as
clubs such as Wimbledon in England and Hoffenheim in Germany have shown,
there is nothing to stop small, ambitious clubs reaching the top one day.
Goitom has played for Real Murcia, Ciudad de Murcia, Valladolid and Almeria
in Spain and believes that Swedish football can learn a lot from the game
there.
"I've seen these kids that play here (in Sweden), there are talents and what
they need is the right leadership. The thing is not to try to be best in
Sweden, but to try to be more like Spain."
When most players would be relaxing on a beach before the coming season,
Goitom has been on the pitch in the shadow of the suburban apartment blocks
where he grew up, teaching the skills he learned in Spain.
"I try to do that because Spain is where I have played most. We shouldn't be
thinking 'we are best in Sweden, and that's enough' -- it's not enough. You
have to go out into the wider world."
Despite his desire to make changes, Goitom believes that there is much to
admire in the Swedish set-up too. Asked if Swedish football had the coaches
and leaders to produce quality players, Goitom nodded.
"I grew up here in Husby and I turned pro, so obviously there are leaders
who can do it. There are an awful lot of pros in Sweden."
UNCLEAR FUTURE
With Almeria being relegated last season, Goitom's own future remains
unclear.
"I have a two-year contract with Almeria, pre-season starts July 6 so I'll
be there. If clubs or offers come in I'll sit down with the agent and
Almeria and take it from there."
Wherever he ends up playing next season, the 26-year-old is adamant that he
will return to Sweden as a coach when his playing days are over.
"It will be in Sweden. Whether it's higher up in the Allsvenskan I have no
idea, but I like young people and challenges. With young people they're not
finished players and you can still change a lot."
As he goes to lock away the training kit, Goitom is teased by the local
youngsters about Almeria's 8-0 defeat by a rampant Barcelona in La Liga last
November.
"Welcome to the 'hood'," smiles Goitom, before good-naturedly confronting
his tormentors.
"Brother - when you play at the Camp Nou and Messi shakes your hand at the
end of the game, you be sure you call me, okay?" he says, towering over the
children.
"We will! We will!" comes the reply. With Goitom's "tiki-taka"-influenced
coaching philosophy now available at their local pitch, one day they just
might. (Editing by Mike Collett and Clare Fallon)
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