New KCCA FC Portuguese coach Sergio Traguil has made it clear that he doesn’t work in an hostile environment.
While facing the Press for the first time on Friday at Kati Kati, Traguil said that he will leave if he faces interference from his bosses.
This, he said, while KCCA FC chairman Martin Ssekajja and Club CEO Anisha Muhozi were present.
Traguil is a journeyman without a doubt, and since leaving his home country in Portugal where he worked with Benfica Youth teams in 2012, he has worked with eight clubs in Africa!
That includes Kaduna United in Nigeria, Hearts of Oak in Ghana, Kabuscorp in Angola among others.
“When I am not feeling well in a place, most of the clubs that I have been, and this is honesty, when I see that people do not have the same vision as me, immediately I will go,” Sergio Traguil told the Press.
“If I see anybody trying to interfere with my work, I will go. If I see that those around me are not working, we don’t have the same vision, intensity, commitment and professionalism as me, I will go for sure.”
But Sergio expressed his contentment with the level of professionalism at KCCA FC since his arrival.
“What I am seeing here since I arrived, we started to work 24/7, I am almost not sleeping. I am disturbing the CEO already and demanding many things but that is the only way we can go to the next step.
“If we continue like this, we shall stay for two years (duration of his contract), and may be build something bigger together.
“I only abandon clubs when I am not feeling okay, right now I can only say that we are working together as one. And all the people around me are doing everything with maximum effort to give me what I want.”
The gaffer added that he chose KCCA FC because he saw a good level of organisation at the Club.
“In my former clubs, I had problems with organisation. I am a very demanding person when it comes to organisation and seriousness.”
“When you see a club that really wants you, that really believes in your project, in your work, when you feel that you are wanted, you have to choose that club. You have to go with your own instincts.
“To be honest with you, I had better proposals in terms of financial, but some of them I knew that there will be interference, and some of them the organisation wasn’t going to be good.
“And what I saw from KCCA few months ago, the way they talked to me, the way they wanted things to be done, the change of mentality and the way they believed in my talent.
“When I say the talent I mean the people who work with me because I don’t do this alone, I am not a miracle maker or the messiah. They made me feel wanted a lot and that was the decision. I felt really wanted, and I think here I hope I can do my job without any kind of interference.
“It’s not easy in African football, and I have been in several clubs so I know what I am talking, to get this kind of organisation. I spoke with almost all members of the club including those on board on the way they are running the club. Even the people around the team.”
To appoint Traguil, KCCA was strongly linked to local based Coaches including former gaffers Mike Mutebi, Sam Ssimbwa and Abdallah Mubiru.
The Club that parted ways with Interim Jackson Mayanja who replaced Morley Byekwaso, was beaten to last season’s title by Vipers on last day of the season.
Despite leaving another season empty handed, KCCA earned a spot to represent the Country in CAF Confederation Cup – an equivalent of Europa League – after Vipers won a double.
But the hunger at Lugogo to taste success again since the era of Mike Mutebi, is up there.
But the new man in charge said that he doesn’t feel the pressure.
“When other people are sleeping, me I am working. I don’t feel any pressure because that is the nature of the job, it’s my work, my passion and life,” Traguil said.
“I can’t feel pressure because of the supporters or anything. I have worked with Benfica and they are one of the biggest teams in the World. Imagine if I can feel pressure here.
“I only feel pressure if my daughter is crying because Dad isn’t here. The only pressure I know is one we have to put on our opponents when we steal the ball and score goals. I can’t know any other pressure. I am a competition monster, I love competition.”
Sergio Traguil said that he expects hard work, a very competitive team and quality in the game play.
He also revealed that he wants to change a little bit of things at the club as “We can’t stay in second or third position because this is the biggest Club in the country.”
“We have to respect our opponents like Vipers, Villa and others but we have to make a big statement and show that we are here for something.”
