Coley taking that big step
AFTER REWRITING the modern-day history of the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield, outstanding Jamaica College coach Miguel Coley says that his focus is now on making his mark internationally.
He is now hoping that his appointment as assistant coach to Winfried Schafer at Iranian club Esteghlal will not only afford him a new experience, but also open new doors for other opportunities.
Although the opportunity to take charge of a national team was tempting after a Caribbean country offered him the head coach job recently, Coley insists that he is a man of his word and he was bound by his commitment to Schafer.
“I have now a country (in the Caribbean) that wants me to take charge of their national programme, but I was down to leave Jamaica from October to go to Iran (to work with Schafer). Coach (Schafer) had to be holding out for me because of the Manning Cup.
“And my word is what I have. It is very difficult for me to tell him that (I will come) and then go and take up this (Caribbean) job. So I told him I had interests here ... but I gave him my word I will be there,” Coley said.
FOOTBALL SIN
Coley was losing some money by not taking up the job in Iran at the scheduled time, but he insisted that it would have been football sin to leave Jamaica College in the middle of the season.
“It was not about me losing money. It was about the fact that I didn’t want to leave the boys. They were struggling, and you can’t forgive a coach for that,” he said.
However, he is looking to learn a lot in his new environment and is hoping that it will open even greater opportunities for him.
“I am going to a professional setting because with that, it is easier to get around on a professional level and get more experience, and my goal is to coach internationally.
“This (Esteghlal) is a top club in Asia. They have won the Asian Champions League. They have won the league in Iran, so it’s a very established club. But it’s not all about going to Iran. He (Schafer) is a well-established coach, and after the World Cup, a lot more doors will be open as some countries will be looking to start their next four years (World Cup qualifying) cycle,” he added.