Former Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet signs for the Philippines
While his name was still circulating to take over an African selection, such as Cameroon, the former coach of Gambia preferred to relaunch in Asia by taking the reins of the Philippines selection.
Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet has left Gambia for the Philippines.
AFP - KENZO TRIBOUILLARD
By: Ndiasse Sambe Follow
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Tom Saintfiet has managed a nice counterpoint, a bit
like the character
who likes to put the indicator on the right, then turn left.
The Belgian technician, who resigned the day after the elimination of the Scorpions at CAN 2024, decided to sign with the Philippine football team when everything indicated that he was spoiled for choice in Africa.
“I want to work with a team that will allow me to play major tournaments regularly and win titles
,” he said after his resignation.
At the moment I have offers in Asia, a selection there, want me for a long lease.
There is also interest from Tunisia and other selections in Africa, like Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon.
Now I will study all the offers and we will see what will happen
.”
Obviously, the offer from the Philippines, 140th in the world in the latest Fifa ranking, caught the interest of Tom Saintfiet, contacted by the Cameroonian Federation and who had also appealed to the Algerian Federation.
It is a big challenge that awaits the former Technical Director of Nigeria who aims to progress a team whose greatest achievement remains a (only) qualification for the Asian Cup in 2018. A competition left after the first round.
In Africa, Tom Saintfiet had a long career of 18 years with stints at the head of the national teams of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi and Togo.
But it was with Gambia that he achieved his greatest feat on the continent.
At the head of the Scorpions, from 2018 to 2024, he managed to qualify Gambia for the CAN 2022 (quarter-final) and 2024 (first round).
In 2022 and 2023, he was named among the best coaches in Africa at the CAF Awards.
New PHI MNT head coach Tom Saintfiet has a message to the Philippine football community as he embarks on a new journey for the Men's National Team.
#PFF #PHIMNT pic.twitter.com/SXUEXmu1ns
— Philippine Football Federation (@philfootball) February 26, 2024
Read alsoCAN 2024: Gasset, Belmadi, Hughton… These coaches who did not survive the first round
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