ACTUALITE |
02.02.2002
Egypt coach Al Gohari says four times is enough
BAMAKO
Veteran Egyptian coach Mahmoud Al Gohari confirmed on Friday that after four spells in charge of the national team he would resign for good at the end of the African Nations Cup.
Gohari, the only man to have won the tournament as both coach and player, said he wanted to head for new pastures after more than 40 years` service for the Pharaohs, and would maybe take charge of a different national side.
``I have decided this is the last time with the national team of Egypt,`` he told Reuters. ``After this, I am hoping for something new, for another country, because I want to give other Egyptian coaches a chance.``
The 63-year-old former army captain has a long-standing relationship with the team, starting back in 1959 when he helped them win the second edition of the Nations Cup and finished the competition as leading scorer.
As coach, he also took Egypt to their last World Cup finals appearance in 1990 and led them to the African Nations Cup title in 1998 in Burkina Faso.
Less happy moments included failure to reach the Nations Cup quarter-finals in 1992, their poor showing in the Confederations Cup in 1999, and, after being recalled for his fourth spell in charge a year later, missing out on the World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
``I`ve tried to do my best, I`ve succeeded many times, I failed sometimes.`` he said.
Gohari criticised the Egyptian federation for sacking him after the 1999 Confederations Cup, replacing him with Frenchman Gerard Gili, then bringing him back after Gili also fared badly.
``I think if I had been given a good chance over four years, we would have something better than we have at the moment,`` he said.
Although Egypt have won the Nations Cup four times, a record they share with Ghana, Al Gohari admitted they had fallen behind Cameroon and Nigeria, who he now sees as the dominant powers in African football.
Egypt face Cameroon in their quarter-final on Monday as they aim for a record fifth title.
Gohari blamed his comings-and-goings on what he described as a love-hate relationship with the local media and Egyptian federation.
``Sometimes I get angry and they are angry, then after a while they ask me to come again and I want to do something again for my country again. This is the story.``
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