Head coach of Flamengo to coach South Africa's national team
22/4/2008 17:43
Joel Santana, the head coach of Flamengo soccer club announced yesterday
that he will be leaving his position in order to take command of the national
soccer team of South Africa.
As soon as the final game of the Rio de Janeiro
state tournament is over, the coach will leave town for South Africa. On the 4th
of May is the final game of the state cup between Flamengo and Botafogo. Santana
will fill the shoes of his fellow Brazilian, Carlos Perreira.
"He told me
that he is going to win in 30 months what South Africa hasn't won in 30 years.
It is a tough situation and we don't have a solution. The situation is based on
our finances. Joel has a dream of coaching a national team in the World Cup. We
can't do anything to keep him in Brasilia. I've already spoken with the players
and we will begin our search for the next coach as soon as the tournament is
over,"said the vice-president of Flamengo, Kleber Leite.
Joel Santana arrived
at Flamengo for the fourth time late last year. After a slow start in the
Brasileiro championship, he brought the team up to a third place finish and a
spot in the Libertadores Cup.
Xinhua
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