‘Joga Bonito’, winning mentality key to success, says Meridian football coach Fabio da Silva

SINGAPORE – For close to two decades, Fabio da Silva’s Brazilian roots have shaped his football coaching methods.

That includes the “joga bonito” mantra (Portuguese for play beautifully) as he provides his young players the freedom to express themselves up front while instilling a winning mentality in them.

Those are key traits of teams under the tutelage of da Silva, who has won a total of 16 National School Games (NSG) titles – nine in the A Division with Meridian Junior College (MJC) and seven in the B and C Divisions with Meridian Secondary School.

Pointing to the likes of Ronaldinho and Neymar as examples of players with flair, the 50-year-old said: “Everyone in the team knows his role. But when it comes to the midfielders and strikers, it’s important for them to use their own ability and skills to take their opponents on one versus one and also to finish the chance. 

“These players have not just the ability, but also the confidence to break the lines. Just like in Brazil, where they give freedom to such players, it’s also important for me to do the same for my players.”

Besides these qualities, his players are also required to adopt a winning mindset.

The former Police FC (the precursor to privatised Singapore Premier League side Lion City Sailors) and Jurong FC player added: “Of course, in school we always imply that when you lose, you also learn and say, ‘let’s move forward’. 

“But the winning mentality is very important to make them better players and also better people. So that’s why we always say, ‘look, we’re going to start at this level, but we all work to win’. 

“If we happen to lose along the way, we all work to be stronger and stronger again in order to succeed. My mentality when I was playing was always to win, so I bring this into my coaching style.”

Former player Ali Manaf, who worked with da Silva from 2016 to 2021 and played for BG Tampines Rovers’ Under-21 team in 2023, attested to that.

The 19-year-old winger said: “The way he pushes me every time to be at my best and play my way is something you’ll never see from other coaches. 

“I played freely under him, which influenced me to express myself on the pitch. This mindset of mine really went along when playing with other clubs and people.”

Hougang United midfielder Justin Hui added that the winning mentality was vital to their triumphs. The 26-year-old, who captained the title-winning MJC side in 2017, said: “Every player had to have this mentality. The players were just so hungry to win and the goals were very clear. Even a draw felt like a loss to us. 

“I still don’t like losing, so I’ve definitely carried this winning mentality with me till today.”

Among all the trophies, da Silva revealed that Meridian Secondary’s C Division boys’ win in 2017 is one of his best memories.

The team had been formed only that year after Coral Secondary and Siglap Secondary merged. But the players swept every team aside despite their underdog status.

While da Silva admitted the title was “a bit of a surprise”, he said: “That year, it took a little bit of time for them to understand well.

“But once they connected with our methodology, then there’s a lot of confidence. 

“And that was when we brought everyone together and said, ‘let’s go and win’. When they went to the nationals, they were already strong and could go all the way.” 

More recently, all four of Meridian Secondary’s teams reached the NSG final, winning the B Division boys and girls’ crowns as well as the C Division girls’ title.

Da Silva says it is only the beginning for him.

“Every day I learn as a coach,” he said. “It’s challenging, but working at the youth level is something I love to do.”