Israel Saria
Cote D`ivoire`s national soccer team coach Vahid Halilhodzic has revealed that he is interested in taking charge of the Taifa Stars after leading the Ivorians through their World Cup campaign this summer.
Halilhodzic’s contract runs out after the finals in South Africa and he has admitted he would be happy to replace Taifa Stars’ coach Marcio Maximo, whose contract also expires in July.
“I have received countless requests from all over the world, but I would be happy to stay in Tanzania and train Taifa Stars if the soccer body asks me to do so,” he said.
And Halilhodzic has even been scouting his potential future changes, examining what areas would need to change should he take the helm.
“You must improve your striking force and the midfield, which play a vital role in winning matches. Your team has been on the defensive for the most part of their games,” he advised.
Stars coach Maximo, who took charge in mid 2006, has been the longest ever serving national team coach since Germany’s Rudi Gutendorf who was in charge in the early 80’s.
Halilhodzic, who toured Tanzania with the Cote d’Ivoire’s national team in a build up matches ahead of the Africa Nations Cup finals in Angola early last month, might have been impressed not only by Stars display but also the serenity of working environment in the country.
Cote d’Ivoire posted a slim 1-0 win against Stars in a friendly international played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on January 4.
Born on 15 October 1952 in Jablanica, the former Bosnian footballer has set eyes on the Stars’ hottest seat.
Tanzania Football Federation, TFF, has already started process of searching for Maximo’s replacement as renewal has been ruled out after the Brazilian coach came into collision course with the public on his coaching tactics.
Maximo, who is highly backed by the TFF leadership that enjoys a huge relief of remuneration burden currently being footed by the State House, is believed to have transformed Tanzanian soccer.
However, the biggest challenge that draws a big demarcation between the football stakeholders and the coach is his ability to lead the team into high profile tournaments such as African Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
He has also been unsuccessful to lead Stars into East and Central African Challenge Cup tournament, flopping for the third time in a row.
Tanzania has been bubbling in triple digit figures of the FIFA global rankings with slight improvement to break inside the 90’s intermittently.
Source: Soccernet
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