I’m here to achieve results – Kenichi
His name is Kenichi Yatsuhashi and he is the first Asian to take charge of Accra Hearts of Oak’s technical affairs in their 104 years of existence.
Since the news of his appointment broke earlier in the week, Coach Yatsuhashi and his employers have been lambasted by sections of the media, as well as some football fans due to his modest credentials and little experience in the coaching business.
Despite the criticisms, the outspoken Japanese trainer has assured management, fans and the entire populace that he would live up to expectation, stressing that coaching is more about what the job holder can achieve with his team on the field of play than what certificate he brings to the job.
The 46-year-old, who speaks four languages - English, Russian, Japanese and Russian - signed a two-year deal with Hearts and is expected to turn the fortunes of the club around next season.
On Thursday, the Japanese granted Graphic Sports’ Beatrice Laryea an interview at the Hearts Secretariat at Adabraka, Accra, which touched on his target for the club, strategies he will adopt to succeed in his new appointment, as well as his family life.
Here are excerpts:
Graphic Sports (GS): Coach you are welcome to Ghana.
Kenichi Yatsuhashi (KY): Thank very much my sister.
GS: Who is Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi, or how do you want us to describe you?
KY: I was born in Japan but I’ve lived in several countries, including Brazil, USA, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa and now I’m in Ghana. I keep adapting; I keep changing and I keep evolving. I am trying to constantly improve myself. That’s me.
GS: How well do you know Accra Hearts of Oak?
KY: I know they won the CAF Champions League in 2000, CAF Super Cup in 2001 and the inaugural CAF Confederation Cup. I also know that they have won several Premier League titles, among others, and they have arch rivals called Asante Kotoko.
GS: What do you hope to achieve with the club in the coming season?
KY: Well, I think the fans want to win the league title as well as the FA Cup and that is also my target. I also want to lead this club to conquer Africa like they did some years ago.
GS: Your credentials and competence have been the subject of discussion since your introduction as the new technical director of the club. How do you feel about that?
KY: I think they have every right to criticise my credentials because this is my first time coaching a professional club and this is one of the biggest clubs not only in Africa but in the world as well so they have every right to be worried. However, what is on paper or CV is just one thing, but what we do on the pitch is everything. So I want them to rather focus on what I will do from now on.
GS: Have you considered the size of the club, as well as the demanding nature of the job you have been given?
KY: I wasn’t aware of any of these until I got here. I realised there’s a lot of pressure and expectations are high. People are waiting to see if you will succeed or fail, but the end will justify the means. I’m enjoying the pressure that is coming anyway.
GS: Many soccer pundits have described you as the most affordable and the cheapest foreign coach this club has ever employed. What is your reaction to that?
KY: (Laughs) I think they are telling the truth. At this moment I’m not expensive but hopefully by the end of the season I will become the most expensive coach in this country.
GS: Many soccer pundits have described you as the most affordable and the cheapest foreign coach this club has ever employed. What is your reaction to that?
KY: (Laughs) I think they are telling the truth. At this moment I’m not expensive but hopefully by the end of the season I will become the most expensive coach in this country.
GS: What is your philosophy for the game?
KY: Well, as a coach I have to find the best way for the players to play together because everything depends on the players. If we have a united and a formidable team, one of our problems is solved. So my focus is on the players.
GS: What strategies and plans will you adopt to succeed in your new office?
KY: Right now I’m observing the players and learning a few things about them. Also, I’m yet to fully settle. So when I am done doing all these, I will disclose my plans and strategies.
GS: How was the reaction of the players when you first met them?
KY: The reception was warm and I enjoyed it. I had training with them and we improved two things today and I’m sure that we will improve some other things tomorrow as well.
GS: You said your business is on the pitch. What do you mean by that?
KY: I am here to coach and achieve results. I do my job on the pitch and any other thing here is not my business. That’s what I mean.
GS: When exactly did you get into coaching?
KY: It was in 1992. I think I was 21 or 22 by then.
GS: What has been your biggest achievement since you started coaching?
KY: I have two achievements. One of them was when I was coaching a university team in the United States; we won third place in the national championship in 2007. In 2013 when I was coaching Under-16 Turkish national team and we almost qualified to the final tournament over Omar and Qatar.
GS: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your coaching career?
KY: Everyday is a challenge. There are different situations and different demands so I cannot relax. I must improve.
GS: Can you share your coaching experiences in the US with us?
KY: United States is a unique place and football is very competitive over there so it makes the coaching job very tasking. That taught me a lot of things and I think there are a lot of experiences I gained there which have made me a better coach.
GS: How do you see African football?
KY: African football is one of the most exciting in the world, but is one of the under-achievers in the world. There are many potentials but I think they must do better.
GS: What do you suggest must be done to make it better?
KY: I think proper organisation and efficient administration will help.
GS: You have been in Ghana for almost a week now. How has the experience been like?
KY: I’m enjoying every bit of my stay here.
GS: What has impressed you most about the Ghanaian society?
KY: It is a peaceful society where different kinds of religions and beliefs are co-existing. Passion to succeed is very high but people talk a lot which is impressive because it is better to talk sometimes than not to talk.
GS: Please tell us about your educational background?
KY: I left Japan when I was 17 years old and I moved to Brazil where I transferred my high school and completed there. I went to the United States when I was 20 and started school there and later to the University, but in second year in university I started coaching and it became full time so I couldn’t finish my four-year degree.
GS: Do you have any profession or business aside coaching?
KY: No! not at all.
GS: Tell us about your family.
KY: I have a wife. We got married two years ago. My wife lives in Japan because her job is there. We don’t have children yet and I think it’s going to be difficult and risky because we got married late in life. She was 42 and I was 44 when we got married, but we are still hoping for the best.
GS: How many languages do you speak?
KY: I speak English, Japanese Russian and Spanish.
GS: What inspires you in life?
KY: Seeing different things that I have never seen before and also the desire to become a better person everyday inspires me.
GS: What do you do during your leisure time?
KY: I think I enjoy exercising. Recently I started swimming which I enjoy very much because now I can swim about 750 metres. I also enjoy cooking so I do it for leisure.
GS: Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know?
KY: Oooooh! There are many things you don’t know about me, but let’s just leave it there because you will find out as we make progress.
GS: Your final words.
KY: We at Hearts of Oak – coaches, players, management and staff will do our best to achieve what the fans are expecting so all fans should come and support us.
GS: I wish you all the best in your career?
KY: Thank you very much my sister.
GS: What is your philosophy for the game?
KY: Well, as a coach I have to find the best way for the players to play together because everything depends on the players. If we have a united and a formidable team, one of our problems is solved. So my focus is on the players.
GS: What strategies and plans will you adopt to succeed in your new office?
KY: Right now I’m observing the players and learning a few things about them. Also, I’m yet to fully settle. So when I am done doing all these, I will disclose my plans and strategies.
GS: How was the reaction of the players when you first met them?
KY: The reception was warm and I enjoyed it. I had training with them and we improved two things today and I’m sure that we will improve some other things tomorrow as well.
GS: You said your business is on the pitch. What do you mean by that?
KY: I am here to coach and achieve results. I do my job on the pitch and any other thing here is not my business. That’s what I mean.
GS: When exactly did you get into coaching?
KY: It was in 1992. I think I was 21 or 22 by then.
GS: What has been your biggest achievement since you started coaching?
KY: I have two achievements. One of them was when I was coaching a university team in the United States; we won third place in the national championship in 2007. In 2013 when I was coaching Under-16 Turkish national team and we almost qualified to the final tournament over Omar and Qatar.
GS: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your coaching career?
KY: Everyday is a challenge. There are different situations and different demands so I cannot relax. I must improve.
GS: Can you share your coaching experiences in the US with us?
KY: United States is a unique place and football is very competitive over there so it makes the coaching job very tasking. That taught me a lot of things and I think there are a lot of experiences I gained there which have made me a better coach.
GS: How do you see African football?
KY: African football is one of the most exciting in the world, but is one of the under-achievers in the world. There are many potentials but I think they must do better.
GS: What do you suggest must be done to make it better?
KY: I think proper organisation and efficient administration will help.
GS: You have been in Ghana for almost a week now. How has the experience been like?
KY: I’m enjoying every bit of my stay here.
GS: What has impressed you most about the Ghanaian society?
KY: It is a peaceful society where different kinds of religions and beliefs are co-existing. Passion to succeed is very high but people talk a lot which is impressive because it is better to talk sometimes than not to talk.
GS: Please tell us about your educational background?
KY: I left Japan when I was 17 years old and I moved to Brazil where I transferred my high school and completed there. I went to the United States when I was 20 and started school there and later to the University, but in second year in university I started coaching and it became full time so I couldn’t finish my four-year degree.
GS: Do you have any profession or business aside coaching?
KY: No! not at all.
GS: Tell us about your family.
KY: I have a wife. We got married two years ago. My wife lives in Japan because her job is there. We don’t have children yet and I think it’s going to be difficult and risky because we got married late in life. She was 42 and I was 44 when we got married, but we are still hoping for the best.
GS: How many languages do you speak?
KY: I speak English, Japanese and Spanish.
GS: What inspires you in life?
KY: Seeing different things that I have never seen before and also the desire to become a better person everyday inspires me.
GS: What do you do during your leisure time?
KY: I think I enjoy exercising. Recently I started swimming which I enjoy very much because now I can swim about 750 metres. I also enjoy cooking so I do it for leisure.
GS: Tell us something about yourself that we don’t know?
KY: Oooooh! There are many things you don’t know about me, but let’s just leave it there because you will find out as we make progress.
GS: Your final words.
KY: We at Hearts of Oak – coaches, players, management and staff will do our best to achieve what the fans are expecting so all fans should come and support us.
GS: I wish you all the best in your career?
KY: Thank you very much my sister.