How Kuwait Coach Hélio Sousa Turns Pain and Negativity into Fuel for Success

Kuwait had the match in its hands. Leading 1–0 over Egypt at the Lusail Stadium, the team controlled possession, created chances, and seemed destined to claim all three points. But two critical self-inflicted mistakes changed everything: a time-wasting yellow card for goalkeeper Suod Alhoushan, followed by a reckless exchange with the referee that resulted in a penalty and a red card. What could have been a celebratory night dissolved into a painful 1–1 draw — and yet, from that frustration came a surprising lesson.

After the match, I asked Kuwait head coach Hélio Sousa how the players felt after throwing away a sure victory. His answer wasn’t just unexpected — it was transformative. He looked straight ahead and said, clearly and firmly:

“They feel exactly as I want them to feel — they feel very bad about the result.”

At first, it sounded harsh. One assumes negativity breaks confidence, dampens morale, and offers nothing constructive. But Sousa wasn’t encouraging defeatism — he was harnessing discomfort as motivation. He explained that this deep frustration is exactly what he wants his players to internalize, because pain makes improvement urgent.

Sousa’s message was consistent:

They must hate the feeling of losing a win so much that they never allow it to happen again.

The Portuguese coach clarified that in the past, perhaps these results were accepted with resignation. But under his leadership, mediocrity and complacency are unacceptable. The standard is excellence — and the emotional sting of failure is part of reaching it.

Kuwait wanted more. Kuwait trained for more. Kuwait deserved more. And because of that, Sousa wants his players to feel the bitterness of opportunity wasted — not to punish them, but to harden them. The disappointment isn’t weakness — it is fuel.

In football, losing hurts — that’s normal. A draw can sometimes feel acceptable. But blowing a lead due to preventable errors? That is worse than a defeat. That is where Sousa draws the line. That is where growth must happen.

From Hélio Sousa, I learned something I didn’t expect:

negativity, when channeled, can be the ignition for success.

Sometimes the most valuable lesson comes not from victory, but from the punch-to-the-gut moment when a win slips away. Sousa wants that moment to burn in the memories of his players, so they will fight harder, smarter, and stronger next time.

CREDIT: By Manuel R. Medina

PHOTOS: Manuel R. Medina