Looking to the future

Sergio Soldano is eager to use his expertise in youth football to boost the MFA’s drive and produce better players.

“I’m willing to use all my experience and knowledge for the benefit of Maltese players and coaches. I’m open to dialogue as, by exchanging ideas, we can help each other.”

Sergio Soldano emphasises this point more than once during our meeting as the Argentine-born coach believes that effective communication and co-operation between coaches and club administrators is essential to achieve his and the Malta FA’s long-term goals.

Having earned a reputation as an expert in youth development through his stints with the international soccer schools of Serie A clubs Parma and Inter, Soldano has been tasked with grooming the next generation of Maltese footballers.

“I met Bjorn Vassallo (MFA CEO) when I visited Malta as a member of the coaching team of the Parma soccer school several years ago,” Soldano said.

“Parma had a co-operation agreement with San Ġwann FC and we conducted a series of training sessions at their ground.

“A few months ago, I received a call from Bjorn. He asked me if we can do something for Maltese football. I promptly replied that you can do anything anywhere and Maltese football is no different.

“This is how it started. We have initiated this youth development programme with the MFA and we’ll see where it takes us. I’m prepared to contribute at all levels. It’s up to the MFA to decide where my services are needed most.

“I must say that I’ve come across some dedicated coaches here.

“Robert Gatt (MFA technical director) is doing some excellent work to take youth football to the next level.

“I’m not here pretending to have a secret formula but I believe that, with my experience in this sector, I can contribute. I’ve had the privilege to watch and learn from great coaches on the training pitch... Mourinho, Mancini, Simoni, Cuper and Trapattoni.”

During his first two-week stop in Malta, Soldano worked closely with the Malta FA’s U-13 squad and also assessed other players from local nurseries.

“My first impressions are very positive,” he said.

“The boys we’re focusing on are those born in 1998. They are very willing to learn. The one thing I’ve noticed is that they are not familiar with the tactical side. My belief is that players should start learning tactics from a young age.

“As Mourinho once said, if the players understand certain prin-ciples, you can teach them any tactical strategy. A complete coach is he who knows how to motivate his players, improve their skills and has a sound tactical nous.”

Latin roots

Although Soldano has done his coaching education in Italy, his country of residence for the past 21 years, he is proud of his South American heritage.

“I was born in Argentina, in Suardi, a very small town,” Soldano said.

“I began my football journey with the youth teams of Santa Fe, aged 14. I was nearly 18 when I made my senior debut and one of my team-mates at the time was Pedro Pasculli who won the World Cup with Argentina.

“In 1979, I was called up to the national junior squad... Diego Armando Maradona was also in that team.

“In Argentina, I spent eight years in the top division and two years in the second league with Banfield.

“Javier Zanetti (the Inter captain), who grew up in Lanus, used to come to watch us play as a young teenager.

“As the economic situation in my country deteriorated, I moved to Italy in 1985. I couldn’t play as a professional though as it was a time when clubs were only allowed to have two foreigners.

“Maradona, Zico, Junior, etc filled those vacancies but I joined a semi-professional club, Alba, and then moved to Carcarese where I played until I was 36.”

After hanging up his boots, Soldano immediately ventured into coaching.

“After I stopped playing, I began to work for Parma,” he recalled.

“I was part of their international coaching staff and we basically travelled across Europe to establish twinning projects with different clubs.

“One day Inter called and I stayed there for five years and visited around 20 countries. I still work for Inter as a scout and they’ve told me to keep an eye on promising Maltese talent.

“I’ve already spotted two or three here who look interesting.

“When I was working for Inter Campus, we did some training sessions at Mosta. It helped as now I have a good idea on Maltese football. I’m more familiar with the mentality of the coaches and the young players here.”

It is often said that a good scout is he who identifies special qualities in a young player that are not readily apparent. Soldano agrees.

“When I was working for Parma, they sent me to watch Calaio (now with Siena), Giuseppe Rossi, of Villarreal, and Antonio Cassano,” Soldano said.

“With Cassano, even my mother-in-law could see that he was an exceptional talent. There was some scepticism about Rossi but he has become a very good player.

“A talent scout is like Geppetto of the Pinocchio fable. We try to unearth the player inside a player.

“And that player may not necessarily be the outstanding performer in a game, it could be one who only makes a couple of touches.”

Back to his Maltese job, Soldano is determined to do everything he can to maximise the potential of the country’s young hopefuls.

“Our principal aim is to hone the talent of the most promising players here so that they can compete with their foreign counterparts,” Soldano said.

“We can’t expect Malta to beat Argentina or Brazil but we can help the young ones raise their standards and play a brand of football that pleases the eye.

“We want future Malta teams to make life difficult for any opponent but to achieve that we have to work hard and believe in what we’re doing.

“The Malta FA is working along these lines but the clubs also have a crucial role to play.”

On a personal level, Soldano, who turns 51 on November 29, is devoting all his energies towards his new role within the MFA.

“I really hope to do well here,” Soldano said.

“Football means everything to me and I always try to give more than my best. When I step on the pitch, I’m totally absorbed in what I’m doing, I don’t even recognise my family members!”