Enthusiastic Andre Schembri ready for coaching challenge in Cyprus

Andre Schembri is ready to immerse himself into the new challenge of first-team coaching when his side Anagennisi Deryneia start their Cyprus’ second-tier campaign next week.

Dernyeia will be hosting PAEEK in a championship that will run until April, where Schembri’s task is to help his newly-promoted side to consolidate their place in the second-tier.

Founded in 1920, Deryneia is one of the oldest clubs in Cyprus albeit they have not won many trophies throughout the years.

Their major wins were in 1999 and 2003, winning the second-tier.

For the former Malta captain, this will be his first experience as a senior team coach after being at the helm of Apollon Limassol U-19 side for the past two seasons, with a one-game spell as the first team assistant coach as well.

Having played and coached in Cyprus, Schembri is already familiar with the concepts of domestic football which will help him while in charge of Deryneia.

“Apollon Limassol was my comfort zone, and I am grateful to the club president for always trusting me in different roles while I was there,” Schembri told the Times of Malta.

“At the same time though, I always wanted to go out my comfort zone as a first-team coach.”

Asked about how his youth football experience helped him, Schembri admitted that he learned a lot being on the field every day and he is keen to improve in every aspect while at Deryneia.

“I am aware of the positives and mistakes I had as youth team coach, and that learning experience will help me to become an even better person and coach here,” he said.

“As a Maltese coach, it is more difficult because there is that extra pressure to deliver considering that we are not acknowledged as a huge football nation.

“That is why I wanted to wish all the Maltese coaches, especially those who are based overseas, the best possible season because I am now understanding the difficulty of this post.”

Schembri heaped praise on the club’s organisation, describing Deryneia as a very family-oriented organisation with a strong fanbase as well.

The organisation’s backing is one of the factors that motivates him daily, especially since he must travel back and forth for an hour every single time as Schembri still lives in Limassol.

“Driving, which I am not particularly fond of, is obviously one of the main challenges,” the former Malta player said.

“However, I am always looking to coach my players who are first and foremost an exciting group of human beings.

“Some of the players are semi-professional, which mean that sometimes they had to train with the fitness coach as early as 5.30am before heading to work and return for the evening session, and although I had no input in those morning sessions, I always travelled to the pitch as I feel the players need to feel the coach’s trust.”

Schembri’s squad, whose average age is of 20 years, is composed of 24 players, including four goalkeepers and young players who spend the majority of their playing time with the reserve team.

Keeping the core of last year’s team, who earned promotion from the third-tier, was key for him, alongside some new arrivals including foreign players with some experience in Cypriot football.

After eight weeks of pre-season, in which Schembri oversaw his team in eight friendlies as well, the former Apollon Limassol and Omonia Nicosia player is keen on the challenge ahead.

“During the pre-season, my plan was to forge an identity based on the players I have, and I am pleased that the players have responded well to my idea,” he said.

“Here, second-tier football is about transitions so our principle is to control the game, with or without the ball, depending on who would be facing.

“There are stronger teams who have deeper pockets and their ambition is to get promoted, therefore we are aware that we will face some difficult challenges this season.”

The second-tier championship is composed of 14 teams with everyone facing each other once in the first round.

Afterwards, the league is divided into two sections of seven sides determining the promoted and relegated teams.