NIGEL CASSERLY started his career as a football manager in 1997 with an Essex Valley team operating out of St. Elizabeth but played most of their games in Europe. Casserly began managing Harbour View's Under-21 team in 2003.
Harbour View had a dream season and were only denied the championship after conceding a golden goal against Portmore United.
The Gleaner caught up with Casserly to talk about his progression as a manager.
Question: What would you say is the difference you bring to the management of football?
Answer: Well, the whole issue of personal development is where I come off being different. I think that developing the whole person, not just those on-the-field-skills footballers tend to focus on, goes a long way to improving performances.
Grit, determination, goal orientation are all attributes that help to accentuate those skills that you do have. I have seen, and correct me if I'm wrong, but there are many very talented players who do not do as well as less talented counterparts, who have the right attitude to the game.
Question: The proof of how well your approach works may be judged on your achievements, what are they?
Answer: Well at Essex Valley my team made it to the quarter-finals of the Norway Cup and that same team managed to win the South Central Confederation at the under-15 level. Those performances have propelled a number of the players to National prominence. Players such as Lovell Palmer, Wade Spence, and Orane Barrett, have all made it to the national under-20 team. This season was also particularly pleasing with the Harbour View team making it to the final of the under-21 competition.
Question: How has your management helped this season to become a reality?
Answer: When the season began we were in 11th place and not doing well. Not because we didn't have he ability to do the things needed to do well but for some reason we weren't. We looked at ourselves and each player lifted his game to another level. The training became more intense and so did the games. I realised the team realised the determination and the courage they were showing was the reason for our success and not how good the team was talent wise. Not that we weren't a good team but we weren't showing that.
Question: What is in the future for yourself and the continuation of this aspect of your career?
Answer: I would like to see more focus being put on the development of our players. I think the focus of each manager and each coach is to make each player that he has under his care great. I'm not saying this will happen but it should be the goal. We have a lot of talent in this country and much of it is wasted because those children are not developed properly. Yes, they have skills on the field but they cannot cope with the various scenarios life throws at them. To be fair, things are improving and what makes what we are doing at Harbour View worthwhile is the fact that other clubs are following suit. We see the same policies being employed at Arnett Gardens, Tivoli, Waterhouse and Portmore United.
