The Alan Cairns interview
By Biplav Gautam
(June 2004)

From Joe Kinnear to Steven Constantine and a couple of lower profile managers, the touchlines of Nepal are used to the vicious barks of coaches from the British Isles. The hiring of Alan Cairns, an Englishman, by Brigade Boys Club however turned a few heads in Nepal's footballing community. Domestic football in Nepal has usually remained just that - domestic. Very few clubs have taken the initiative to look outside the country's borders to strengthen themselves.

BBC decided to turn the tables on Gurkha tradition by putting a Brit to work for them! It did not take Coach Cairns much time to make a name for himself amongst football faithful. His tirades on the sidelines, BBC's impressive results in their first year of "A" division play, and the disastrous scorelines in a few matches have all been talking points for fans at the stadium and the internet discussion boards. NepalSport.com wasted no opportunity to interview the feisty armyman and learn more about the coach that has caused quite a stir at Rangasala.

Please tell us about your football background.
I have supported Sunderland Association Football Club all my life as I am from the area and it is my local club. With regards to playing football - I left school where I was a member of the school team and joined the Army where I started to represent company teams and then unit teams.  I also played for the Army in Gibraltar.  I have managed/coached several unit teams and had I not moved to Nepal, I would have coached the Army Gibraltar team.  I have also managed the younger youth teams for Aldershot Town FC. One of my goalkeepers there, who started life as a midfield player, is now playing for Reading FC's youth team (Take note Ramesh [Rana Magar]!).  As you can see, there hasn't been too much excitement in the past, but that is not to say that excitement cannot appear in the future.

How did you get around to becoming the coach of BBC?
I returned from England where I had been on a coaching course and was asked by a work colleague if I would be interested in taking over as manager/coach of Brigade Boys.  I accepted the following day but did not realize the size of the task before me.  Had I known, I would have accepted the same day I was asked!  I would have been more than happy to be an assistant manager, but now I really feel part of the Club and probably look forward to training 6 days a week more than the players.  Brigade Boys Club took a chance appointing me and I will do everything in my power to ensure that this Club not only remains in ‘A’ Division but continues to improve.

What is your coaching philosophy and have you had to adjust it for the Nepali league?
Ideal coaching philosophy would be to have a great team, scoring goals, playing attractive football and keeping clean sheets while playing with a smile.  In reality that does not happen so I would have to say play hard, fast and aggressive and respect all opponents but fear none.  Make sure your players are fit for both training and games and give them as much variation as possible.  Play to your strengths not your opponents weaknesses.  Prepare the body and mind for games.

What are your impressions of the Martyr's League? Where would it fall in the British football pyramid? How can it be improved?
There are a number of good players in the Martyr’s League, however there are not enough to make Nepali football strong.  Money needs to be spent in a number of areas, most notably grass roots football and coaching education.  That is not to knock the present coaches but merely trying to say that new practices are being delivered on a regular basis in a number of countries that would improve not only the way Nepali football could be taken forward, but also improve the way in which we, as coaches, think about both the game and our players.  It is not always the best eleven players who make the best team!  The game could be improved by giving the players the opportunity to play on better surfaces, to allow them the use of dressing rooms and facilities, but to do this the stadium would have to be improved.  Only then, when Nepali football is being given the same chance as English football could the question of “Where the Martyr’s League would sit in the British Football Pyramid” be answered. 

BBC has been extremely inconsistent. You've lost games by some ridiculous scorelines, how do you explain that?
Young, naïve, lack of inner strength, badly prepared – take your pick.  Brigade Boys Club is a young team with no experience of football in the top flight.  For those who did not know the club has been less than twenty years in existence and in that time it has risen from bottom to top division.  This has been achieved by hard work and togetherness, not by big wages and national players!  The ethos of this club is that we still look for students whose fathers are serving Gurkha soldiers and the only players from outside Kathmandu are from the recruiting areas of Dharan and Pokhara.  There is a family feeling about the club and no matter what, that will be retained.  When one player gets injured, we all hurt.  Inconsistency with so many changes around the club is not unexpected, however some scorelines and performances have not been due to inconsistency.  The answer remains between the coaching staff and the players.