After a bad run of defeats and disappointments, Chilean football is back on its feet again. The national team has its sights set on qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and due to various factors, they are in with a good chance of making it to South Africa in two years’ time.
Chile are different now, that is for sure. They are more motivated, better organised and more enthusiastic, and they are capable of rising to the challenge they face with a genuine expectation of success. The team is determined not only to take part in the World Cup but also to end a ten-year barren spell by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup™ for the first time since 1998.
The man chosen to lead the revolution is none other than Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, a big-name appointment who has brought his experience, his work ethic and his obsession with football to bear despite opposition from some quarters. Under Bielsa’s helping hand, la Roja are on their way to achieving their dream of qualification for South Africa 2010. The revolution is here. With Harold Mayne-Nicholis at the helm of both the Chilean football and professional football associations (FFCH and ANFP respectively), it was possible to persuade Bielsa to return to the game after a three-year hiatus. In exchange for a highly lucrative deal, the FFCH President brought in a man with prior experience of leading his native country to FIFA World Cup™ qualification with a view to transforming the Chilean mentality, thinking big or at least feeling bigger.
As a result, Chile are travelling down the hard road to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ with a different attitude, bearing their coach’s tactical hallmark (three at the back) and making hard work the central pillar of their bid for success. In addition to his professional ability, a coach’s name also carries weight and Bielsa is so highly respected in football circles that his arrival in itself has had a positive influence on the Chilean players. Unlike in previous years, all Chilean footballers have their sights set on playing for the national team, both those who play domestically and those who play abroad. The latter group is the one that is now making the difference in terms of the effort they are putting in compared with under previous coaching regimes.
NO BUTS, NO COMPLAINTS
The main focus is on changing the mentality of Chilean players; on not contenting oneself with playing a secondary role and looking on at the exploits of the continent’s big teams but being protagonists themselves, playing their game, imposing their game plan on a match and using the same established system wherever they play. “I closely examined the human resources available to Chilean football, the players are there and it is possible to organise them as a team. That’s why I accepted the position,” explains Bielsa, who has now settled in Santiago (he lives in the Juan Pinto Duran training centre, which was refurbished at his request) as if he were Chilean himself and travels the country watching football, looking for players and different options. This creates the feeling that everyone has a chance of being selected for the national team and that players are not going unnoticed.
After missing out on the last two FIFA World Cups™, finishing seventh on 22 points in the last preliminary competition and last (of 12) in the 2002 qualifiers and generally performing poorly in major competitions, the revolution is finally under way. Mayne-Nicholls explained to FIFA magazine that “these are processes that need to be analysed over a longer period. Marcelo came here in mid-August and it would be risky to make a full assessment at this time. It would be better to do that in 2010, hopefully after the FIFA World Cup™! But we are already delighted with his working methods, his professionalism, the commitment of the whole group and the passion and affection that he has put into everything. There are no buts and no complaints.” But has Mayne-Nicholls noticed a change in the players’ attitude? Mayne-Nicholls: “Yes, in terms of the motivation caused by having a highly talented coach. They all want to be there and are interested in playing for Chile. This is real progress, the players want to fight for 90 minutes and try to play during away matches. We are looking for an identity, we want to know what kind of game the national team is going to play. I like the idea of having enough conviction to leave your mark on the game, of having a playing style.”
THE “EUROPEANS”
In previous years Chilean players have made the news more for their antics off the pitch than their achievements on it. This was the case at the Copa America in Venezuela in 2007, for example, when five players drank to excess after qualifying for the knockout stages and ended up disgracing themselves. The ANFP handed them a 20-match ban, which may be reduced after the qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in Bolivia on 14 June. “We do not want to see a repeat of what happened there and on other occasions; we do not want to continue to be involved in acts of indiscipline and we now hope that there will be a complete change,” explained Mayne-Nicholls, who took the opportunity to praise Chilean fans and emphasise their importance. “Over and above the players and coaches, we have the most loyal supporters in South America. We fill all of our stadiums, we have just held the South American Women’s Under-17 Championship and it was the same there. The fans are always there through good times and bad and we hope that they will continue to support us on the road to South Africa.”
The supporters are so committed to the revolution that there were 52,000 of them in the Estadio Nacional for Chile’s 2-0 victory over Peru, bringing in more than USD 1.3 million in gate receipts. Even in previous qualifying campaigns, Chile was the country that sold the most home match tickets. Now, under the orders of Bielsa and with the legendary Marcelo Salas, the talent of Matias Fernandez (Villarreal), other “Europeans” such as Claudio Bravo at Real Sociedad, Mark Gonzalez at Real Betis, Arturo Vidal at Bayer Leverkusen, Luis Jimenez at Inter Milan, the goals of Humberto Suazo (Monterrey), the skills of Alexis Sanchez (Udinese, on loan to River Plate) and young players who forged their reputations at the last U-20 FIFA World Cup, Chile certainly have reason to dream. That said, as Bielsa points out, “everyone knows that qualifying is not an easy task for anyone. It’s hard work, but it’s exciting.”

Lee Young-Pyo
Name: Lee Young-Pyo
Born: 23 April 1977 in Hongcheon (Korea Republic)
Nationality: Korean
Height: 1,76m
Weight: 66kg
Position: Defender/midfielder
Club career: 2000-2002: Anyang LG Cheetahs 67 league appearances, 3 goals, 2002-2005: PSV Eindhoven 82 league appearances, 1 goal. 2005-2008: Tottenham Hotspur 70 league appearances, 0 goals.
International career: Made debut for Korea v Mexico in June 1999. 94 caps, five goals. Played at 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups™.
Honours: Korean K-League (2000), Korean Super Cup (2001), Dutch Eredivisie (2003, 2005) Dutch KNVB Cup (2005)

Close to the century
Lee Young-Pyo, one of the two Koreans who have blazed a trail in European football, stands on the cusp of joining that elite group of players who have won more than 100 caps for their country.
Reaching that landmark appears to be guaranteed for Lee, a fast and skilful full-back, even if his football club future at Tottenham looks to be less than certain. Lee first burst onto the world stage as part of that marvellous Korea Republic team that reached the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup™. Guus Hiddink, that hugely talented Dutch coach, identified two outstanding players from his team and when he left the Korea side to take over at PSV Eindhoven, he ensured that both Lee and Park Ji-Sung, an attacking midfielder, came with him. It was not long before they had both established themselves as important members of a team that won two Eredivisie titles and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.
As always happens when a Dutch side progresses so far in European competition, the big football clubs of England, Spain and Italy were alerted to the quality of players in the PSV ranks and when Hiddink moved on, an exodus ensued. Park went to Manchester United, Arjen Robben to Chelsea, Mark van Bommel to Barcelona and Johann Vogel to AC Milan.
EASY DECISION
Lee was targeted by several Italian football clubs, but he had enjoyed the Dutch approach to football so when Martin Jol approached him to join Tottenham, it was an easy decision for the defender to make. Jol had a huge regard for Lee too, saying: “He’s played in the Champions League and is the best left-back in Holland. A number of Italian clubs would have liked to have taken him.” Lee was not just a left-back either – naturally right-footed, he could easily change flanks and play in midfield too. The move to London paid off for both Lee and Spurs as Tottenham mounted a concerted effort to break the stranglehold of the four top clubs who have dominated the Champions League qualification spots.
The end of his first season brought yet another attempt from an Italian club to sign him, and this time Lee came close to joining Roma before changing his mind and deciding to stay at Tottenham. Lee, a devout Christian, denied reports that his religious beliefs had prevented him from moving, citing unspecified personal reasons. “I was very close to going to Italy but negotiations fell through at the last minute,” he said at the time. It was good news for Tottenham, as they mounted their best league campaign for many years and only missed out on fourth place on the final day of the season. But the start of the 2007-08 football season proved to be different, and a watershed for both Lee and Jol.
Expectations that Tottenham would improve even further were dashed by a terrible start to the season and Jol’s contract was terminated. Juande Ramos’ arrival from Seville heralded a fresh approach to the team, and Lee has been one of those who has found his involvement in the first team limited. Once again, clubs in Italy’s SerieA have been alerted to his availability, while others in England will also be tempted by a seasoned Premier League defender when the transfer window re-opens. It would not be beyond the bounds of possibility for Lee to return to PSV — the club’s technical director Stan Valckx recently expressed his interest in bringing back the former fans’ favourite. Lee himself said recently: “PSV will always be my team. My contract with Tottenham expires this summer and I will decide what I will do then. But I am still missing PSV every day.”
BEFORE THE END OF 2008
Lee’s main focus for the rest of the year though is to join the 100 club and help Korea qualify for the FIFA World Cup™ again. He had 94 caps, and five goals, before the qualifier against neighbours Korea DPR on March 26 so the century should be within his grasp before the end of 2008. That would see him level with Lee Woon-Jae but still a long way short of the legendary Hong Myung-Bo, who played at four FIFA World Cups™ and achieved the total – astonishing for an outfield player – of 135 caps. Having just turned 31, time is running out for Lee if he is to get anywhere near that mark but the re-appointment of Huh Jung-Moo as coach of the Korea Republic national team should at least help. It was Huh who first called Lee up for the Taeguk Warriors and has already shown his faith in the full-back. Lee said: “Huh is not only the football coach of Korea but he also knows the Korean players very well. With his leadership skills we can show our ability at the 2010 FIFA World Cup”‘. When I was first called up to the national team, Huh was the coach and in two years we lost just three games. We usually won so I have good memories of that time.” For any footballer, achieving 100 caps is a remarkable success story. Except for Lee, this story is far from over.

Kenwyne Jones
Born: 5 October 1984 in Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago
Position: Striker
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 85kg
Clubs: 2002: Joe Public. 2002-2004: W Connection. 2004-2007: Southampton (England). 2004-2005: Sheffield Wednesday (England, on loan). 2005: Stoke City (England, on loan). Since August 2007: Sunderland (England).
Honours: Played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. 30 caps and 2 goals for Trinidad & Tobago.
Miscellaneous: Jones is the nephew of former international striker Philbert Jones. Kenwyne chose to pursue football as a profession ahead of athletics, basketball and cricket. He went on strike in protest at Southampton’s reluctance to sell him to Sunderland in August 2007. Statistics show Jones is the Premier League’s fourth fastest player, running at a top speed of 20.6mph whilst off the ball, then slowing to 20.2 while on the ball. Cristiano Ronaldo is the quickest.

Kenwyne Jones – the next Drogba?
When up-and-coming football strikers such as Fernando Torres and Carlos Tevez headed to Trinidad and Tobago for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2001, Kenwyne Jones was preoccupied with stopping them. Nowadays, the 23-year-old is more interested in copying their goalscoring feats in the English Premier League.

Jones was a strapping central football defender when the FIFA U-17 World Cup was staged in Trinidad and Tobago, but since 2001 he was been transformed into one of English football’s most talked-about strikers with some stirring performances for Sunderland. His elevation means that Jones has realised his ambition of playing on the same stage as Torres and Tevez again after initially struggling to make an impact in European football.
Jones has been described as “the best football striker in English football” by Sunderland manager Roy Keane but the laid-back Trinidad and Tobago forward is taking everything in his stride. Keane recently stuck a £40-million price tag on the 23-year-old to ward off the interest of Premier League rivals such as Liverpool, who are being widely tipped to make a move for the player this summer. I am happy to hear that the manager has such confidence in me but I do not tap into that stuff,” Jones told FIFA magazine. “I just put my head down and do what I have to do. If you start buying into all that you get sidetracked. You lose your way. You want to be at a place where you are wanted. No-one wants to get slagged off but I am happy that I am liked. I still have lots to do to be comfortable and earn that praise. I am happy they like what they are getting from me.”
“OF COURSE, I AM FLATTERED”
Not even the persistent rumours about forging a strike partnership with Fernando Torres at Liverpool have been enough to distract Jones, who started life in England with Championship side Southampton. That was where his desire to succeed was doubted so much by then manager Harry Redknapp – who turned him from a utility player into a forward – that he was sent out on loan to harden up at Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday, where his career was finally kick-started.
It proved to be the making of Jones who was described as a “Didier Drogba in the making” by Southampton boss George Burley following Redknapp’s departure. “I have been linked with Liverpool and it is nice to be wanted but of course if you don’t attract interest then that may mean you are not doing things right,” Jones continued. “Of course, I am flattered but I am more concerned about the job in hand.”
Jones, who recently ended his international exile to return to the side under newly-appointed head coach Francisco Maturana, is also looking forward to locking horns with England in a friendly against his adopted country in the Caribbean this summer. “It will be really nice for the fans,” he said.
His decision to resume his international career following a dispute with his country’s football authorities following the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finals in Germany means that he can continue serving his country, which he first did as a teenager back in his homeland. That was when the FIFA U-17 World Cup was staged in Trinidad and Tobago back in 2001 during the days when Jones was playing as a centre-half in a tournament that featured a string of players who have since gone on to grace English football.
A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE
These include player-of-the-tournament French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle and Anthony Le Tallec, who both played for Liverpool before Torres, Argentinian duo Carlos Tevez (Manchester United) and Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) as well as Brazilian midfielder Anderson (Manchester United) and Croatian winger Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth). “Myself, Tevez and Torres all played in that tournament in 2001 and it is nice to see how we have all progressed,” Jones reminisced. “Torres was the same as he is now and Tevez was great. We all knew who they were and I have kept tabs on what they have done. I was just 16. France won it when they beat Nigeria 3-0 in the final. We got knocked out in the first round but it was still great for football in the Caribbean that we hosted the competition.”
Jones was brought up in Sobo Village in the Point Fortin area of picturesque Trinidad but nowadays he is happy to call the historic city of Durham in the north-east of England home, even though the nearby North Sea is far less hospitable than the Caribbean.
“It is a different way of life up here but having Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke with me at the club has helped me settle and it is nice to have friends before you arrive somewhere,” Jones added. “Dwight has been here in England for over 20 years and his experience has been vital. He knows how to act in certain situations and how to go about your job. We hang out but I am a family man so I spend a lot of time with my wife and kids. I don’t know what Dwight gets up to, I have three kids. A boy and two twin girls. Four years old and 15 months. They keep me very busy. Who knows what I would be doing if I didn’t have that type of responsibility?”
A BRAINWASHED BOY
Jones adds that it is nice to have something to take you away from football: “People outside of the game may think that they would love to be a footballer but I don’t think they realise how hard the training regime is and the lengths we have to go to. Of course, there are the rewards of the money, the cars and other nice things. But football can be very stressful so it’s nice to have the kids. They don’t keep me up too late at night but they are very energetic. My little boy is brainwashed about football but I am sure when he grows up he will do what he wants to do.”
Jones’ rise to prominence has also ensured Sunderland have become one of his homeland s most popular teams — thanks partly to his somersaulting goal celebrations. “When I was watching football when I was growing up in Trinidad, I used to watch a lot of La Liga and Serie A,” Jones added. “Aston Villa and Manchester United were big and we heard about most them. It was all about Dwight and Newcastle because of Shaka Hislop and we used to hear about Liverpool because of John Barnes who was born in Jamaica. But Sunderland are now big back home because of Stern John, Dwight, me and Carlos. For the people back home, they don’t know what Sunderland and the area is about. It will be nice to teach them a bit about this culture. Hopefully I will be able to show them about the history, such as why they (Sunderland fans) are called ‘Mackems’.”