Mr Ivan Kolev

Q: Hello Mr Kolev, how do you feel about staying in Myanmar?
A: Very good. The weather is a little bit hot here. But I had already got used to the hot weather when I was in Indonesia. In Indonesia, it is more humid.

Q: During your one-week stay here, what have you been doing?
A: Gaining knowledge of Myanmar football – I have just been watching Myanmar Premiership matches. Today’s (Thursday, September 23) match is the fourth for me. As for the national team, I go to the training ground in Thuwunna every morning to study their condition.

Q: Why did you decide to coach Myanmar football team?
A: I chose Myanmar from three options – an Arabian club, an Indonesia club and the Myanmar national team. When I met the president of the Myanmar Football Federation (MFF), he revealed the desire of the Myanmar football community which calls for victory. It’s a great challenge for me and it interested me.

Q: Out of everything the MFF offered (salary, future plan, etc), what interested you the most?
A:Many things. But the most important thing is to work well with the federation and players. If the federation doesn’t like me, I will go back.

Q: Tell us something about your career background.
A: I have a lot of things to say about it because I have been a coach for more than 20 years, since 1982. I studied some coaching subjects at the Bulgarian Sports Academy. And I have a valid grade A coaching licence from the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). I went to European countries including Italy, Germany and French more than five times to study football. After just ten years of experience, I started coaching a national team – the Bulgaria junior team.

Q: How many national teams have you coached so far?
A: Three teams, Bulgaria junior team, Indonesia and now Myanmar.

Q: What interests you about working in football in this region?
A: I’ve played football since I was six years old. And then I became a professional footballer. Football is my life. Having quit playing football, I started my career in coaching in Bulgaria. Then I wanted to have more success with teams outside Bulgaria.

Q: Did you know anything about Myanmar’s national team before you came?
A: Two years ago, the Indonesian team I was coaching played against Myanmar in the Tiger Cup. The match finished in a 0-0 draw. After that, I don’t know.

Q: How long will you stay in Myanmar?
A: Originally, I intended to stay for one year. But I hope to stay for more than one year. I want to work very hard. I hope there will be good results for the Myanmar team.

Q: How important is the Tiger Cup?
A: Generally, as a coach, debuts are very important. For me, every match is very important, no matter whether it is a Tiger Cup match or friendly match. Every game is very important because this is the national team. I will pay serious attention to each match.

Q: Now the MFF has selected the national team squad. Do you plan to change it at all?
A: Yes, we will announce the final squad on October 20. Before that day, I will try to watch every football player and add some players to the national squad if they are good enough.

Q: What do you plan for the Myanmar team and have you found out anything about the Myanmar team?
A: Good date (joking). Then, I will find out the form of the players. I just go to the team’s training ground every morning. It’s a good team but something still needs to be changed. There are many things I like but some things I don’t like – I’m preparing a training program.

Q: Which teams do you think will be Myanmar’s main rivals in the Tiger Cup?
A: As you know, Thailand’s team is top in the region. So the main rival will be Thailand and other big competitors will be Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. They are preparing very seriously for the Tiger Cup.

Q: What’s the difference between Myanmar and Indonesian football?
A: In Indonesia, every match is filled to capacity with spectators. The spectators are so important in football, especially for the home team. In Indonesia, visiting teams rarely win because they are afraid of the home supporters.

Q: Why did you decide to keep the same assistant?
A: Because he is so tall like me (joking). We had been working together in Indonesia for more than one year. He is very helpful – he also translates my language. But the most important thing is he will be together with me on the field.

Q: What do you think of the Myanmar assistant coaches?
A: I haven’t met them.

Q: Myanmar has never participated in World Cup qualifying. Do you think the team should aim to compete in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa?
A: I cannot comment on this because I don’t know the precise background of Myan-mar’s football team.