New Al Gharafa coach Zico (right) poses with a club official with the club’s jersey after being unveiled as the new coach during a press conference in Doha yesterday. Zico, who was nicknamed the ‘white Pele’ during his playing days, has signed a two-year deal with the former Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Brazilian football legend Zico has urged Al Gharafa to be competitive if they want to challenge the top teams in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
Zico yesterday signed a two-year contract with Al Gharafa who have not won the QSL shield since their third consecutive trophy in the 2008-2009 season.
“I know that this club has a rich history and has done well over the years but they will have to be competitive to challenge the top teams (in QSL),” Zico said after being unveiled as the new coach for ‘the leopards’.
“There are some top teams in Qatar. To beat them you have to play tough football,” the 60-year-old said.
“We are a big team (in Qatar). I want to do good things with this club,” Zico added.
Called the ‘white Pele’ for his superb all-round game when he played for Brazil, Zico said he has yet to meet the players.
“I came here a few days ago and I am yet to meet the players. That would happen probably today,” he said.
“I know they (Al Gharafa) are playing a friendly. But I have been well informed about the team. The Al Gharafa management has ensured I have watched a number of CDs of the team’s matches,” the Brazilian said.
“I think this club can be developed further,” Zico said without elaborating.
“We have the capacity and the strength to get good results,” the Brazilian coach added yesterday.
Al Gharafa, who won the Emir Cup last year in May, have changed five coaches since March 2011. Frenchman Bruno Metsu (March 2011 – March 12) coached the side for a year before being sacked and replaced by Paulo Silas (March -November 2012.)
Habib Sadek took over for a couple of months (November- December 2012) before giving way to Alain Perrin (December 2012 – February 2013).
Sadek, again performed the duties on an interim basis after Perrin departed, before Zico was officially unveiled at a low-key ceremony at the club’s premises yesterday.
Zico, who coached Japan between 2002 and 2006, signed a contract with Iraq Football Federation in August 2011.
The Brazilian legend, however, resigned as coach in November last year after little more than a year in the post.
Zico said moving to Qatar was not a difficult decision.
“I have had the opportunity to lead training camps with Iraq in Qatar many times. I know the place and the system here,” Zico said.
“The league (QSL) is developing fast. I have had a few friends tell me about the place. So it was an easy decision to come here,” the Brazilian added.
Zico hung up his football boots in 1994.
Since then the Brazilian legend has managed various clubs, most notably Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Russia’s CSKA Moscow in Europe.
THE PENINSULA
