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– What made you decide to come to HAGL after 3 years of “guarding the sword” and 10 years outside of Vietnam?
For me, going back to HAGL is like going home. 18 years ago, when I first came to Vietnam, I liked life here. I have many friends in Vietnam, especially in Pleiku. I like Vietnamese football and right now their team is the strongest in Southeast Asia. Most importantly, the person who contacted me was the German “three.” He was like a friend, relative and father. So when he called and said he wanted me to come back and lead the HAGL, I agreed. I don’t have to think too much when the person on the other end of the line is “three” German.
– What is a close relationship with Germany with Kiatisak? I was curious 18 years ago, would a call like that make you nod too?
Are not. At the time he did not know how to vote for Germany, nor did he know which team was HAGL. Let me talk about my story. I am a civil servant in the police industry of Thailand. But because of my passion for soccer, I went from being horizontal in the world of soccer to becoming a professional player. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I was the star of Thai soccer in particular and Southeast Asian soccer in general. In contrast, HAGL remains anonymous on the Vietnamese soccer map.
At the age of 29, in early 2002, I said goodbye to the Singapore Armed Forces and returned to Thailand. I am married with the desire to spend time with my wife. I intend to rest for a while. Then one afternoon, I received a faxed letter from Vietnam. The content of that fax read: “HAGL wants Kiatisak’s service.”
– And so?
Of course I never thought of Vietnam then. I also don’t know which team HAGL is. I flatly refused. Days later, I still receive faxes from HAGL. Lots of HAGL letters that I drop in the corner of my desk. Then one day, I received a letter with a different content: Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc – The president of HAGL will come to Thailand to meet me.
So I actually met the real Duc. I started to feel a sense of seriousness in this person and on this team. “Three” Duc at the time told me that: He just took over HAGL and the group’s value (as of 2002 – PV) is over $ 1 million. He added: “I sincerely want us to cooperate and help each other. The Vietnamese love Kiatisak. They want to see Kiatisak in person.”
Then he told me: “I want you to play for a club that loves good football. I want the players to play with joy and happiness.” In fact, by the sincerity of the “three” Germans, he was convinced. But I also have to talk to my wife. Surprisingly, he agreed to let me go to Vietnam and supported my decision.
– Of course, verbal persuasion is one. Surely, “three” Germany should also guarantee a generous remuneration for him?
Then I received offers in Singapore and Malaysia. But “three” Germans told me: “I’m just telling you this, how much are the other teams paying you? I don’t care. You just know I’ll pay double the amount they suggested!” “Three” Duc also said: “I bought a car. The villa is available to me. You don’t have to think about anything when you come to HAGL.”
– Tell us how you felt when you first came to Vietnam, as a player for a Vietnamese team.
Then my friend Chukiat Noosarung and I went to Vietnam. Before boarding, I received a call from “three” Germany. He told me he just came to Ho Chi Minh City, someone will come pick him up.
It was February 17, 2002. When I landed at Tan Son Nhat airport, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Because there are too many fans who come to ask for photos and autographs. Reporters, media, team leaders, Consulate General of Thailand in Vietnam … wait, please welcome us. Honestly, I still want to play in developed soccer venues like Japan, Korea, or Europe. But somehow the charm took me to Vietnam, to the V-League. Although this is a football fund that does not have much fame.
– What is remarkable about the upcoming story at HAGL in the 3-4 years you have played for this team?
The HAGL formation at that time had eight foreign soldiers. It is not difficult to communicate in a foreign language. But talking to the Vietnamese is a problem. Vietnamese do not speak English. Chukiat and I don’t know Vietnamese. Sometimes I don’t understand what the person in front of me is saying. Everything has to go through an interpreter. However, football has its own language. After 3 months at HAGL, I signed a three-year contract with this club.
One day “dad” Duc called me and said: “I want you to stay with this place for a long time”Learn Vietnamese and get used to life and the roads here. Then I played and learned the language. Unexpectedly, after 3 years, from a player who never thought of choosing Vietnam, I can speak Vietnamese fluently, in many corners and paths here.
– Is your impression of the V-League different from what I thought before in Thailand?
I must say that I am surprised. I don’t think Vietnamese fans are that passionate and bloody. Pleiku’s courtyard is always full of people. I remember when I scored my first goal, I was celebrating a holy dance (high jump and then turn around). The crowd was shouting: “Kiatisak, Kiatisak!”, For a long time … I thought I was playing in Europe or in particular in Italy!
You know, that moment was really incredibly happy. We are welcomed, encouraged, and sincerely loved!
– After two V-League championships in 2003 and 2004, you were a player and coach at HAGL in 2006. How do you feel when you have the table?
It was also fun to say. At the time, he still thought he was just a player, but he didn’t think about being a coach. I was even a player and a coach. “Three” Duc told me this: “I don’t need a good coach. I need a coach that when he says it, the best player obeys.” Perhaps people said they were desperate and greedy. But if we don’t try, how do we know the results? And then I can still do it. That is the starting point of my coaching career afterwards!
Then I broke up with HAGL after that, although “three” Germany said they were willing to double my salary. But I want to go back to Thailand to take care of my wife and children. I still remember that in “three” Duc told me this: “Come back when you want!”. After that, “three” Germans often go to Thailand and want me to show them what Thai football is like. And then HAGL Academy – Arsenal JMG was born after going back and forth like that.
– The time you left and returned to HAGL was not too long. In 2010, people saw Kiatiska gathering the Mountain Street team. What made you decide to come back?
“Three” Germany called me. So we just need a phone call, like now. He told me: “I still hope that one day, you and HAGL will lift the trophy for the third time.” Of course, with that fervor, the “three” from Germany, I have no reason to refuse at all. HAGL and I got off to a good start. I helped the team win the championship in the Ho Chi Minh City soccer tournament – Navibank Cup 2010. But I couldn’t win the V-League with HAGL. HAGL only finished seventh in the table. Immediately after that season, I gave up the hot seat to Dusit to continue leading Chula United.
– Why didn’t you stay as long as when you came to Vietnam?
As much as I like Vietnamese football, the place I want to dedicate the most is Thailand. In 2013, I did what I promised, which was to coach the Thai team. And I did it with what I did.
– A 2-year contract with HAGL will probably make you stay longer. So how did you prepare for the next meeting with this team?
Coming to HAGL this time is a challenge for me. Last time I saw the video clip of the HAGL competition. The adults of the HAGL Football Academy are now the core of the team. They are good players, young and agile. I met them at the youth tournament and now Van Toan, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong have grown up. Of course, they need to learn more. I believe that if they do the best they can, they can win.
– Will the leadership style that has been successful in Thailand be applied to HAGL?
I don’t want long rocks. The HAGL needs a short, quick kick. Because the bodybuilding of Vietnamese and Thai players in particular and Southeast Asian players in general is not an advantage to compete with foreign players. I want to build HAGL as “Zico style”. I want to combine quick kicks to harness the force of speed. I want a stone of dedication.
I will try to practice positions and strategies for HAGL. The team needs to press better, put more pressure on the opponents. It is important that HAGL has good kicks, beautiful stones, not bad stones. If the kick is bad, the public does not like it. I want you, the fans, to see football in a satisfying way.
– And you personally, what have you prepared for your life after 10 years without being in Vietnam?
I miss the feeling and life in Vietnam. Vietnamese are very open and friendly. I miss the beef noodles, the chicken pho, the chicken porridge, the iced latte. Right now, I remember too much, I already want to go back to Vietnam.
– Thanks for the discussion!
