Corry Ihuhua
3 July 2008
Belgian national Tom Saintfiet, who was confirmed as the new coach for the Brave Warriors this week, was initially fired by his former club in Finland in March this year.
According to a Finnish football website, Saintfiet was fired by RoPS on March 21 this year after being in charge of the side for only two months.
It is reported that the players at the premier league club didn't liked the way how Saintfiet used to coach.
The Namibian Sport yesterday posted questions via e-mail to Saintfiet regarding his axing at his former club, but he did not reply.
Saintfiet is however expected to arrive in Namibia next Tuesday to take up the post vacated by Dutch national, Arie Schans, who was also fired by the Namibia Football Association (NFA) last week.
Saintfiet has a rather remarkable coaching career which stretches for just over a decade.
He has a Uefa A coaching diploma and other qualifications in sports psychology and sport economics.
He has also coached premier league clubs as well as youth and junior national teams in Africa and Europe.
It is, however, his recent dismissal from the Finnish club, Rovaniemi PS (RoPS), that will raise the eyebrows of many local fanatics who are already questioning his credentials.
Strangely, the new coach will also be expected to appoint his own assistant coaches, but will not be allowed to choose any foreigners as the NFA is currently cash-strapped and unable to pay for them.
The NFA, this week announced that the 35-year-old Belgian, will take charge of the team for their remaining 2010 World Cup/African Nations Cup matches as well as the Cosafa Cup.
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