Dubai’s Al Wasl Football
Club has denied Diego Maradona put his name forward to coach the Bahrain
national team.
The Argentine legend, who is
halfway through a two-year contract at Al Wasl, was reported as saying he would
like to be considered for the Bahraini national team during a trip to the Gulf
state.
“There was no official
statement or comment made by Diego Maradona indicating that he has any interest
in coaching the Bahraini national team,” Ahmad Khalifa, head of media relations
at Al Wasl Football Club, said in a statement to Arabian Business.
“As he has stated more than
once, Diego Maradona would like to see his contract through with Al Wasl and
even more recently he has expressed his interest in staying with Al Wasl for
life,” he added.
But speaking at a press
conference at the weekend alongside the President of Bahrain’s Football
Association, Shaikh Ali Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Maradona told reporters he
would keep his options open. “Put my name in your options if you are looking
for a new coach for the national team,” he said.
“I think that Bahraini
football is generally good. Al Riffa [club] are characterised by excellent
passing and have very good elements. Through my work with Al Wasl, I can see
Gulf football is at a good level but needs more attention.”
The retired football star
signed a two-year deal to manage UAE-based Al Wasl in May last year, but the
team’s fortunes on the pitch have not noticeably improved.
Al Wasl is currently fifth
in the UAE Pro League, 15 points behind leaders Al Ain with only a month and a
half left in the season.
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