I had witnessed SAF grow mad only in three occasions. Here is one of them
If I remember well it was the summer when Manchester United signed Yorke. SAF was invited to Malta and he took Yorke, Rai, Van Del Gouw, Clegg and Wallwork with him. I remember that the club was filled with supporters who came to the club 2 – 3 hours before just to book a good place. I was assigned by the club to take care of the players inside the premises, something that I always like to do because it enable you to have close contact with the players and develop a good friendship. At about 3 pm SAF came with the players at the club, but Yorke wasn’t there. SAF seemed to be at ease and in a joyful mood. The first thing SAF did was to tell the supporters that Yorke would be there in about 30 minutes due to “important personal issues” and then he joined the supporters, signing autographs and socializing with them. I gave little notice to SAF (which was surrounded by the Supporter’s club committee whom I don’t link so well with) and decided to spend the afternoon talking with Rai whom I consider as one of the most down to earth players in the world. Time passed (about an hour) when suddenly SAF raced angrily from the main room right to the committee room. It was clear that something was wrong. Rai told the lads to leave everything and join the gaffer in the committee room and I escorted them to the committee room.
SAF was furious. His face was red, his eyes were filled with anger. The committee was trying to calm him down but it was in vain
“I will not let Yorke making me look as an idiot that was sure” he roared as he took my mobile (without my permission) and called Yorke on the mobile
From the argument I could understand that Yorke lateness wasn’t due to a personal circumstances but do to the fact that Yorke was doing some extra homework with a Russian whore. SAF was furious with him calling Dwight an idiot and a liar, and threatening him that he would surely fine him for such actions. We stood there silent
As if paralysed by SAF and everyone was surprised by the man who turned from a great gentleman into a monster in a split of a second. When the call finished, SAF looked at everyone right into our eyes, one after the other starting from Rai and finishing with me. He knew that he managed to scare the hell out of us and seemed satisfied of that result. He grinned and said “Yorke is not coming today but Ill sort him out, don’t worry”. Then he walked towards me, gave me the mobile and said “Thanks”. I confess that in my life I was never afraid of anyone, but SAF did managed to scare the hell out of me.
After that he went out, apologized for Yorke whom according to him “didn’t managed to solve his personal problems in time” and left the club with a great smile on his face and as confident and at ease as ever. I admired SAF in how he tackled the problem and the way he protected his players despite the fact that he was furious with him.
Years had passed since then yet the witnesses of that event had never talked with each other about that Summer afternoon when we all witnessed some for the first time SAF hairdryer. I promised myself to do my best not to see it again but unfortunately it wasn’t.
If I remember well it was the summer when Manchester United signed Yorke. SAF was invited to Malta and he took Yorke, Rai, Van Del Gouw, Clegg and Wallwork with him. I remember that the club was filled with supporters who came to the club 2 – 3 hours before just to book a good place. I was assigned by the club to take care of the players inside the premises, something that I always like to do because it enable you to have close contact with the players and develop a good friendship. At about 3 pm SAF came with the players at the club, but Yorke wasn’t there. SAF seemed to be at ease and in a joyful mood. The first thing SAF did was to tell the supporters that Yorke would be there in about 30 minutes due to “important personal issues” and then he joined the supporters, signing autographs and socializing with them. I gave little notice to SAF (which was surrounded by the Supporter’s club committee whom I don’t link so well with) and decided to spend the afternoon talking with Rai whom I consider as one of the most down to earth players in the world. Time passed (about an hour) when suddenly SAF raced angrily from the main room right to the committee room. It was clear that something was wrong. Rai told the lads to leave everything and join the gaffer in the committee room and I escorted them to the committee room.
SAF was furious. His face was red, his eyes were filled with anger. The committee was trying to calm him down but it was in vain
“I will not let Yorke making me look as an idiot that was sure” he roared as he took my mobile (without my permission) and called Yorke on the mobile
From the argument I could understand that Yorke lateness wasn’t due to a personal circumstances but do to the fact that Yorke was doing some extra homework with a Russian whore. SAF was furious with him calling Dwight an idiot and a liar, and threatening him that he would surely fine him for such actions. We stood there silent
As if paralysed by SAF and everyone was surprised by the man who turned from a great gentleman into a monster in a split of a second. When the call finished, SAF looked at everyone right into our eyes, one after the other starting from Rai and finishing with me. He knew that he managed to scare the hell out of us and seemed satisfied of that result. He grinned and said “Yorke is not coming today but Ill sort him out, don’t worry”. Then he walked towards me, gave me the mobile and said “Thanks”. I confess that in my life I was never afraid of anyone, but SAF did managed to scare the hell out of me.
After that he went out, apologized for Yorke whom according to him “didn’t managed to solve his personal problems in time” and left the club with a great smile on his face and as confident and at ease as ever. I admired SAF in how he tackled the problem and the way he protected his players despite the fact that he was furious with him.
Years had passed since then yet the witnesses of that event had never talked with each other about that Summer afternoon when we all witnessed some for the first time SAF hairdryer. I promised myself to do my best not to see it again but unfortunately it wasn’t.
