ACTUALITE |
20.10.2005
Angry Lechantre set to exit Mali
Mali coach Pierre Lechantre says his contract will not be renewed when it runs out at the end of the month.
The Frenchman, who won the Nations Cup with Cameroon in 2000, regrets not being given a chance to carry on the work he started in March this year.
"I wanted to work until at least 2008, and I had developed plans to bring on young players," he told BBC Sport.
"But the President of the Malian Football Federation (FMF), Salif Keita, told me he did not intend to renew my contract.
"It is frustrating because I wanted to develop youngsters who would be ready in 2008 or 2010.
"Usually coaches are criticized for not playing enough local players.
"Well I am being attacked for the opposite, playing too many locals."
When Lechantre took over, Mali had only 2 points from 5 games in 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifying group 1, and were realistically out of the running for both.
Lechantre led the side to home wins over Liberia and Congo, and to defeats against Togo, Zambia and Senegal as the Eagles finished second bottom of the group.
The French coach said things began to change once Keita and other former footballers were brought in to run the FMF.
"Keita and the others were all professionals in Europe, and they wanted to get too involved in my work," he explained.
Keita was not immediately available for comment.
Lechantre, a former player with Lens and Marseille, says he will now look for another job, either in Africa or the Middle East.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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