Gambia gunning for Belgian coach

Reports reaching Observer Sports have it that The Gambia Football Association is at advance stage of securing the services of a seasoned Belgian coach to lead the Scorpions in their bid for a place at the 2010 World Cup finals, to be hosted in South Africa, and the Africa Nations Cup finals in Angola in the same year.

Confirmed sources informed Observer Sports that the Scandinavian coach is currently in the country awaiting the approval of the department of state for Youth and Sports before taking charge of the Scorpions who have been left coach-less since the departure of Spanish Jose Martenez.

An official at The Gambia Football Association has confirmed the arrival of the coach, adding that the sports department has been duly informed of his arrival.

“We have written to the department of state for Youth and Sports and we are now waiting for their response before we can engage the coach,” the source added.

The Gambia government, through the department of state for Youth and Sports, has recently succeeded in hiring the services of two Italian coaches. But with one of them serving as a goalkeeper trainer, and the other to take charge of the Under 20 team, the senior team would still need a coach who will guide them to the 2010 qualifier competition.

Peter Bonu Johnson, has been appointed as Scorpions caretaker coach, but  the former Under 20 coach is expected to be reassigned to the position of an assistant coach when a potential coach is named.

Gambia’s quest for a spot in South Africa and Angola finals respectively will commence on May 31, with an away-tie to Liberia. The Scorpions will also face arch rivals Senegal and Algeria in the fast-track qualifier competition.