Gaston Taument: I do miss the 4-3-3…

Gaston Taument (38) played sixteen internationals for Oranje. The former Feyenoord player is not the C2 youth coach in Rotterdam. How is he?

“I played two major tournaments with Oranje and scored twice. My debut game was the most memorable for me though. I had just made my debut for Feyenoord and not long after I got my invite. I couldn’t believe it myself. Rinus Michels was coach and he allowed me to play against Portugal in a friendly. The real highs were the WC1994 and the EC1996 of course. What a huge circus those tournaments are. One big party…”

“After my career, I immediately started as assistant coach at Feyenoord. I allowed me to keep my physical condition at level and I could check if I liked this new part of football. I studied at the same time and got my coaching license.”

“People always think that it’s natural for players to become coaches or trainers, but it’s totally different. Being in front of a group. The managerial aspects and communication. The group I work with is 13/14 years old. A tough age-group. Undisciplined, distracted, hard-headed… We train 5 times a week. In the morning I do the C’s, in the afternoon I support the B-coaches and and later I help out with the A’s. I observe a lot. I try not to be too dominant with commands and all. I rather have them sort it out themselves. Check the decisions and choices they make and then maybe coach them a bit along. I hated coaches who yelled and screamed at you even before you had the ball. I’m not sure what my ambition is. I like working with the youth, but I will keep on studying and who knows…”

“I’m still a huge Oranje fan. I watch everything and the friendlies for me are also exciting. The level of the players today is astonishing. The work rate, the discipline… I do have a special eye for the wingers of course. I do miss the 4-3-3 system, but I understand the decision, since we don’t seem to have a right winger. You can use Van Persie there with his left, but it’s logical for the coach to change the system according to the players you have. I highly enjoy players like Robin, Sneijder and Van der Vaart. I am positive about the future. The talent we have… And Van Marwijk is a great coach, a man who’ll always keep his cool. He can gel a team together and he has the experience and worked in pressure cookers. I expect this generation to do really well at the WC2010. I think a spot with the last four is doable. Certainly.”