Tajikistan coach Petar Segrt, identified for his heat and affable demeanor and commanding voice, has gained reputation for his allure on the Asian Cup.
He is now capturing consideration as his crew embarks on a exceptional journey to the quarterfinals.
As the only debutant within the match in Qatar, Tajikistan entered because the competitors’s underdogs receiving minimal consideration when the 24-team group stage commenced.
However, they astounded the continent by not solely progressing to the knockout stage but additionally orchestrating the upset of the match by eliminating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on penalties within the final 16 on Sunday.
“We are now the dark horses in this tournament. Nobody knows how far we can go. I have no limits for my players; they’ve surprised me again,” the 57-year-old Segrt instructed reporters.
A well-traveled coach who has taken cost of groups akin to Georgia, Afghanistan and the Maldives, the Croatian has develop into a nationwide hero in Tajikistan up to now week.
His demeanor and showmanship got here throughout as a ploy to shift the limelight away from his younger squad and the tactic has clearly labored.
“It’s like when you have children, you must wait for the right moment,” Segrt had stated when requested whether or not his persona protected his crew throughout the group stage. “Now they are ready … I will still try to put all the pressure on me, but they must work like adults and do it themselves.”
Conceding just one aim in opposition to Qatar, a comeback win over Lebanon and practically beating the UAE in 90 minutes earlier than dumping them out within the shootout is proof that his crew is probably higher than their rating of 106 would counsel.
“We are among the eight best teams in Asia,” stated Segrt, whose facet will face Iraq or Jordan subsequent.
Center of consideration
Croatia’s Segrt makes some extent of shaking everybody’s hand within the room earlier than his news conferences.
He says he has executed it out of respect for 27 years.
“I come from a very poor background in a very difficult situation in old Yugoslavia and Germany. I learned to respect everybody because for me, as a child, it was very difficult,” he stated.
“I never forget where I come from … I think I have an honest soul; this is my most important thing.”
His fashion of administration has clearly struck a chord together with his younger gamers, who engulfed him and broke his glasses after they certified for the last-16.
“He’s very positive every time, very kind. But he knows when he has to be friendly and kind and when he has to be hard and strict towards us,” Tajikistan defender Zoir Dzhuraboev stated.
When some gamers sat on the turf within the dugout earlier than the shootout in opposition to the UAE, Segrt sternly requested them to get again on their ft and current a united entrance, standing shoulder to shoulder.
“I think the most important thing is to make harmony between people,” he stated. “A coach who can make and bring harmony to the people, this is a good coach and a successful coach.”
Segrt’s contract runs out after the Asian Cup, however there isn’t a query the place his loyalty lies.
“We’ll see in the next few days, but I must say that Tajikistan is my first country,” he stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com