Weigang may take charge (The Malay Mail)

KARL WEIGANG, Malaysia's best-achieving foreign soccer coach, may soon
walk back through the doors of FAM again.
 The German is tipped to renew an acquaintance with FAM that started 18
years ago when he steered Malaysia to the finals of the Moscow Olympics.
 Though Abdul Rahman Ibrahim is the new coach of the national team,
Weigang could be new supremo of the Olympic 2000 squad who are without a
coach following the "removal" of Hatem Souissi.
 Weigang is expected to be interviewed by the Olympics 2000 new
management committee.
 Weigang, who has just led Perak to the Malaysia Cup final, has said he
will be leaving Perak at the end of the season.
 However, whether Weigang wants to accept the national job or just become
a technical adviser with a local coach handling Olympic 2000 is left to be
seen.
 But at this stage, Weigang seems to be the leading candidate as the
successor to Hatem.
 FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah said they had no intention of sacking
Hatem after yesterday's exco meeting but the Tunisian will be redesignated
as a technical adviser.
 On the question of the coaching job, Sultan Ahmad Shah said it is up to
the management committee to decide on the needs of the team.
 Apart from Weigang, the other names that came up during Saturday's
Technical Committee meeting were Pahang's Jorgen Larsen and Sarawak's Alan
Vest.
 Although former Sabah coach Ronald Smith of Australia was mentioned by
the media as one of the candidates, it is learnt he was not considered.
 The shortlisted coaches are expected to be called up for an interview
where they will outline their plans for Olympic 2000 and what can be done
to turn the team around.
 The coach who can convince the management committee, headed by FAM
deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, on how he can change
the fortunes of Olympic 2000, will probably get the job.
 But at the same time, the committee will give consideration to those
familiar with Malaysian soccer.
 It is learnt that Hatem, during his meeting with the Technical
Committee, was asked to give his views on improving the team following
their recent poor performances but he apparently did not have much to
offer.
 The technical committee felt it was best that someone is brought in for
the betterment of the team.
 It has been established that the Olympic players could not get along
with Hatem because of his strict discipline and rigid training.
 They wanted Hatem out and there have been indications the players held
back in matches recently to make Hatem look bad.
 The "removal" of Hatem seems like FAM are bowing  to the demands of the
players.
 Hatem's "ouster" at this stage is debatable because there are only six
months to the Olympics qualifier in June.
 Hatem has earned good reviews as a coach and maybe his only fault was
not getting the players behind him.
 But a decision has already been taken and all indications are Hatem is
history. The Tunisian is not going to sit around and see another coach
handle the team while he does paper work.
 Everything points to Weigang taking over.
                             (END)