Bradley Stewart ... the new man in charge at Arnett Gardens. - FILE
ARNETT GARDENS Football Club is the latest stop for experienced coach Bradley Stewart.
After stints with Reno and Rivoli United in the past year, Stewart has arrived in the 'Jungle' to tame the many worried fans who have seen their team drop woefully off form from their crowning years in 2001 and 2002.
The 30-year coaching veteran was last Monday named successor to Jerome Waite, and by his own admission, will have no 'honeymoon' period.
Well respected for his knowledge of the game, and the work he has done with youth footballers, Stewart may be up against one of his biggest challenges - making Arnett Gardens a perennial contender for the National Premier League (NPL) title.
Arnett Gardens president Patrick Roberts says Stewart was one of three prospects and was selected because of his impressive resume and his familiarity with some of the players.
Shortly after Arnett Gardens announced their new coach, Stewart discussed life and football with One on One.
Q: How long have you been coaching?
Bradley Stewart: I'd say from about 1972 or '73. I started out coaching when I was an assistant personnel officer at Innswood Estate and part of my responsibilities was to develop sporting activities within the company, and I had to develop my own coaching rules.
Q: Do you learn something new each year and with each group of players?
BS: Certainly. Every day, as a matter of fact. Every year when I go to the U.S. I get involved in a coaching programme and I'm continuously being exposed to new and different ways of coaching.
Q: What is the most profound thing you've learnt that you will apply at Arnett Gardens?
BS: One of the new coaching methods is the Coervers method where you approach coaching from an individual basis. You teach each player ball mastery and have them develop the moves and work on their speed and strength. So you develop them individually and that translates into a stronger team.
Q: What will Arnett have to do to return to the top four in the Premiership?
BS: We need the current players to be committed to the Arnett Gardens cause. There are quite a lot of good players there that have been producing over the years. So they have to assimilate the information passed to them and then respond positively in training and games; they have to be intense, passionate, determined and be driven by results.
Q: Club president Patrick Roberts has said the development of his junior players is important. How will you incorporate this in your programme?
BS: I'm on board with that philosophy. It's an ongoing process and you have to develop young players. The Under-21 is supposed to serve as the feeder for your senior team, so you can't not pay attention to what's happening at that level. However, the Under-21 team is doing very well in their league, so at this stage I don't think one would want to break them up too much. But the exposure will certainly be good for them.
Q: Since this season, the violence in the community has affected Arnett's performance. How will you deal with this if there is a recurrence?
BS: It (violence) can happen to anybody at any time. What is important is that there is an effort being pursued by the different players in the community to have things resolved. In recent times, I haven't seen any flare-ups and the hope is that it will continue and even get better. And as I understand, the spectators are getting back in the stands so it would seem there is a different mindset.
Q: What has kept you in the game for so long?
BS: Passion! Wanting to help kids realise better opportunities for them. I have helped about 600 kids get into colleges abroad. I have worked mainly in the inner-city communities and low-income environments and given those kids opportunities to see things differently.
Q: How old are you now?
BS: I'll be 62 in May.
Q: Any plans of retiring soon?
BS: As long as I'm healthy and have the support of my family and feel I can contribute I'll continue to do so.
- LeVaughn Flynn
