Francis Respicio, News5
The Philippine Football Federation is finalizing the details of Hans Michael Weiss’ new six-month contract as the coach of the Philippine national men’s football team.
PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes and Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the deal for Weiss to stay with the team at least for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will be finalized this week.
Gastanes justified the six-month extension for the German coach, which has raised eyebrows among local football fans.
“The qualifiers is in March and if we don’t qualify, then we don’t have any tournament for the year. We also have to consider the cost of having a head coach at that kind of level,” he said.
“The decision was made after considering all the factors and based not only on the success, but the problems that we had.”
Palami, for his part, said that Weiss’ contract would depend on the Azkals’ performance in the Challenge Cup qualifiers.
“He will be coaching us for the Challenge Cup campaign — from the qualifiers up to the final group stages. However, if we do not qualify, then the campaign ends and his contract ends,” said Palami, adding that the main issues over the contract have been resolved.
“All we need is the document to sign both contracts. But the basic terms have been agreed and we look forward in the preparations for the Challenge Cup.”
The Azkals will face Turkmenistan, Brunei, and Cambodia in Group E of the qualifying stages in Manila from March 22-26.
From a Pinoy Soccer Coach in So-California
ReplyDeleteTo Coach Weiss,
You are trying to fix a national problem that has been compounded by decades of inadequate support. You have a tall order in front of you but not impossible to accomplish if you are given the right tools to work with. I hope PFF can deliver the tools you need to meet the six- month objective.
I'm cheering for you and will be for the next six months!
Weiss is an experienced coach. He knows the components of the agreement. He should know the capacity and resources of the PFF. I'm sure he is aware even before he took over the national team the problems that he will be facing. Hes been the coach for the last couple of years and wouldn't take this challenge if the PFF won't be able to give him the tools or resources he needs to take the team to the next level.
ReplyDeleteThe only help a national federation can give an NT coach is a long term contract. Can you not see that a 6 month extension means Weiss would have been out the door on Jan 16 if the PFF could have found another good enough foreign replacement willing to take over?
ReplyDeleteIt is so obvious that the PFF is willing to let him go. Weiss is actually lucky that his contract expired just a couple of months before a huge tournament. If not for the Challenge Cup in March, then he will be out of job by now. Weiss has been the coach for the past two years. He isn't starting from scratch.
ReplyDelete