FIFA World Cup 2018: Football universal sport, colour debate disturbs me, says Cisse.

FIFA World Cup 2018: Football universal sport, colour debate disturbs me, says Cisse.

Senegal's players warm up during a training session in Moscow. (AFP Photo)MOSCOW: At 42, Aliou Cisse is the youngest coach in World Cup 2018. And also the only black coach.

When this was pointed out during the pre-match press conference at the Moscow Spartak Stadium ahead of Senegal's opening match against Poland, and Cisse was asked whether any prejudice exists against African coaches being employed by African teams because he is the sole representative in Russia, the smile vanished from his face for a few seconds.

Recovering soon after, Cisse spoke his brief with firm composure. "It is true that I am the only black coach among the 32 participating teams in Russia. The black coach debate disturbs me. Football is a universal sport where the colour of the skin carries very little importance. It is good to see a black coach walking in the technical area during a World Cup match.

"Football doesn't need the colour of skin. It is not played by the colour of skin and the colour of skin doesn't have any place in the game. I represent a new generation of African coaches. We have the right credentials and we deserve the position that we are in," said the former Senegal captain who led the nation during its maiden World Cup campaign in 2002. They famously defeated champions France in their first game and eventually reached the quarterfinals.

The debate returned to Robert Lewandowski after the brief and unwanted detour. The coach, dreadlocked and smiling said, "We all know how dangerous Robert is. His record speaks for itself. We do not have a plan to stop him but we definitely have a strategy to get the better of Poland."

Asked about Sadio Mane, Senegal's biggest star currently, Cisse said that the Liverpool striker has the quality to turn the game around in a moment. "His biggest asset is his unpredictability. At any point he can make the difference with a dribble and pass, so for me, he is already one of the best players."

He added, "Sadio is a unique player and he can't be compared to any other Senegal player, even if we've had some major ones in the past. He's unique and despite everything that has occurred to him in the last two or three years, he hasn't changed. He's just as humble as the first time I met him, six years ago at the Olympics. His mentality hasn't changed, his behaviour towards the staff and his humility is the same, so he's a player who can bring a lot to the team."

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