The First Key To Coaching - Learning To Correctly Pronounce Your Players' Names

There are so names that are difficult to pronounce. Charles N’Zogbia is an example of that. But when you’re a professional soccer player on Newcastle United people are typically able to figure out the pronunciation. Especially if you’re the team’s coach. Except for Newcastle Coach Joe Kinnear.

Kinnear was doing a post game interview with Sky Sports when his state of confusion occurred.

Kinnear said: “Shay [Given] pulled out with a knee injury as did Insomnia . . . Insomnia . . . er, Charlie.”

And with the bungling came the consequences. N’Zogbia just can’t take these kinds of disrespect. His feelings hurt by the mispronunciation, N’Zogbia now refuses to play for the team. But can’t Newcastle just get along? Having thin skin in the EPL won’t help you succeed. Kinnear, for his part seemed unperturbed.

“OK, I got a little tongue-tied — but if I had a pound for every time I’ve mispronounced a player’s name down the years, then I’d be a very wealthy man indeed,” he said.

That might be a fair argument for a new coach or a new player. But N’Zogbia has been with Newcastle since 2004! The time has come, Kinnear - - learn how to pronounce the names of your players. It might result in better team morale, and a better record too!