Lobo slams axing of coach
Lobo slams axing of coach
Posted: 2010-01-28 12:12
Mozambican Almiro Lobo has expressed disappointment with his national association's decision to fire coach Mart Nooij after the Black Mambas failed to go past the group stages at the on-going Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
The Platinum Stars midfielder believes that getting rid of Nooij was an 'amateurish and uneducated' decision.
The Mozambique Football Federation said they booting out the Dutchman because he had failed to accomplish the target of reaching the final.
"I strongly believe that it was unfair to fire the coach because he was a good man to work with and we all enjoyed working with him," says Lobo.
"How do you just fire a coach who has managed to get the team to its first final in 12 years just like that? To me, that man did very well by merely getting the team to qualify for the finals. He should have stayed on in the job.
"Qualifying alone was an achievement for us because we don't usually get there. The last time we qualified for Afcon was 12 years ago.
"The problem with our guys back home is that they don't understand football which is why they even demanded that he bring home the trophy. In football you don't go to the finals for the first time in 12 years and expect to come back with the trophy.
"Our football bosses just want things to happen fast without thinking about that it takes time to build a team that can reach the final," says Lobo.
The 27 year-old former Bidvest player adds that the standard of the game in Angola also made him realise just how much he still has to improve on his game.
"I seriously need to take my game to the next level by working much harder. I saw and felt the difference between playing in the PSL and in the Afcon against organised teams. The pace is tremendous, especially in our game against Egypt," he adds.
Meanwhile, adding weight to Lobo's words, is the fact that Tunisia have extended the contract of coach Faouzi Benzarti for two more years despite the country's elimination from Afcon.
Benzarti (59), had been appointed caretaker for the tournament in Angola where Tunisia drew all three of their matches and finished last in their group.
He replaced the Portuguese Humberto Coelho in November after Tunisia's failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Benzarti was also a caretaker coach for Tunisia when they hosted 1994 Nations Cup finals, coming in for their final group game after they had sensationally lost the opening match.
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