Courtesy: Fiji Times


Critic queries coach appointment

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

FORMER Navua secretary Kamal Narayan has questioned Fiji Football Association's decision to appoint its long-serving development officer Hussain Sahib as national Under-17 head coach.

Earlier in the year, Sahib was head coach of the national Futsal team that struggled in the Oceania Championship. He also coached the national Futsal team in 1999 and 2004 without success.

"Hussain Sahib is a development officer and not coach. Coaches and development officers are supposed to be two different people," Narayan said.

"I don't see the merit in this appointment. It would have been realistic if Sahib was an exceptional coach with a proven track record or if Fiji had won a Futsal Championship under his coaching."

Narayan said district coaches like Gurjit Singh, Manoj Kumar, Kamal Swamy and Bal Sanju Reddy were better candidates.

"Did Fiji FA consider these coaches? Was the position advertised? he asked.

"Manoj has showed he has great knowledge and understanding of the game. Why can't Fiji FA utalise him?

"Gurjeet is an equally good coach and so is Master Kamal Swamy, who has produced a number of age-group players for national teams.

"If Fiji FA is committed to winning any tournament at Oceania level then why not utalise the proven coaches. We should be using the best people that we have. By appointing the same person for national coaching roles, Fiji FA is sending wrong signals. It's as if other coaches no matter what they achieve, they will simply never be given a chance."

Swamy and Ba's Ravinesh Kumar will be Sahib's assistants.

"Those that follow soccer know that Kamal (Swamy) is one of the best when it comes to coaching young players," Narayan said.

Fiji FA youth director Rajesh Patel said there was no need to advertise the position.

"The Fiji FA board appointed Sahib. We feel he's the best person to coach the team. He's a former national rep and has worked with past national team coaches," Patel said.

Sahib played for the national team in 1977.

Patel said he was not sure if Sahib had ever coached a district team to glory.

The OFC qualifier for the FIFA U-17 World Cup will be played in New Zealand from January 8-18.

Fiji is grouped with New Zealand, American Samoa, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Last year, New Zealand won the Oceania qualifier and featured prominently in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Kiwis bowed out after losing to Nigeria in the round of 16 eliminations.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com