ON the park or off it, it is fair to say that Jose Quitongo likes to entertain. The Angolan forward isn’t short of a word or two, but he did his talking with his feet as well.
That is why he is encouraged to see the progression in Scottish football as players improve technically and mentally and give themselves the best chance of making the grade.
Last season proved to be a breakthrough one for many up-and-coming talents as Motherwell duo David Turnbull and Jake Hastie and Lewis Ferguson of Aberdeen showcased their talents in the top flight.
Quitongo always did his best to catch the eye during his career and the 44-year-old reckons more players now have the ability to shine on Scottish football’s stage.
He said: “Things have improved since I was playing. In my time when I first played in Scotland, the players were very physical.
“It was big, tough, Scottish guys and I used to sh** myself. But this younger generation coming through like to play with the ball.
“They like to get it down and pass. I trained with Jake Hastie last season a couple of times as he’s my son’s pal. He’s a good player and has a big future but now is the time for him to work hard.
“He’s earned his move to a big club and needs to keep his focus.
“Some people may think he’s not going to play but you never know as everyone starts the season is equal.
“It wasn’t a surprise to me that he’s gone to a big club like Rangers. David Turnbull is the same and Lewis Ferguson at Aberdeen as these are boys I already knew.
“When you see them coming through then Scottish football’s future looks good.
“Jake must focus as a manager can sign a player and some will say he’s not going to play but at pre-season everything goes back to zero.
“It’s about going to Rangers and working hard and waiting for his chance as football is about who wants it more.”
Since calling time on a nomadic playing career that took him across Scotland and around the world, Quitongo has moved into coaching as he looks to develop the next generation players in his adopted homeland.
He will pull his boots back on to play in a charity game in Airdrie on Saturday as he lines up alongside the likes of Marvin Andrews, Owen Coyle and Alex Neil at the Penny Cars Stadium.
Quitongo said: “I feel the youngsters are coached too much sometimes. I do one-to-one sessions sometimes but the most important thing for me is that they need to play with a smile on their faces.
“My sessions last for an hour. We do drills at first and then play games and have a carry on and parents always tell me how much their sons enjoyed themselves.
“Football should be fun but – too often – I see coaches shouting at boys from the touchline and that’s wrong.
“At that level it developing their skills should be more important than results – it should all be about enjoyment and progression. That’s the main thing.
“There are a lot of good young players. I had Lewis Ferguson at Hamilton, who is now at Aberdeen and in the Scotland squad. Then there is David Turnbull, who could go to Celtic, and Jake Hastie, who has joined Rangers.
“These are players who want to play in the right way – they’re not just going to lash the ball up the pitch and hope for the best. That’s why I believe the next few years could be really good.
“The new generation of Scottish players want to keep the ball on the floor .I was talking to my pal, Marvin Andrews, this week about how, when I first came to Scotland, because I was fast the ball was punted into the channels for me to chase. Now, though, more teams play out from the back.”
Jose Quitongo is pictured promoting a charity game at Airdrie’s Penny Cars stadium this weekend.
Ex-pros like Marvin Andrews, Owen Coyle, Alex Neil, Graeme Smith, Marvyn Wilson and Sandy Stewart will join a host of celebrities in a charity match in aid of the Airdrie Community Trust this Saturday at 1pm.
Tickets are on sale now – priced £10 for adults and £5 for kids - at the stadium, online at www.therossowenshow.com/charity-football-match and pay at the gate on matchday.
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