In Congo-Brazzaville, the time is now counting down, for the reason that publication on March 13 of the record of 25 Crimson Devils. They may host South Sudan on March 23 in Brazzaville on behalf of the third day of the CAN 2023 qualifiers. And 4 days later, the Congolese will journey to Dar es Salaam to face the South Sudanese, as a result of the stadium of Juba the capital is in full works.
With three factors on the clock, Congo occupies third place in group G behind Mali (6 factors) and Gambia (3 factors) and forward of their future opponents (0 level). In a Congo the place everyone seems to be upwind for the nationwide staff to be a part of the 24 African choices that may qualify for this thirty fourth CAN, it’s the coach who’s above all on the forefront. Higher, on the new seat. And Paul Put is aware of it. As he has to battle like hell to make folks overlook the elimination of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the principle mission for which he was referred to as upon to guide Thievy Bifouma, prime scorer within the historical past of the Crimson Devils (15 achievements in 33 choices ) and his compatriots.
When Paul may… do it
In Might 2021, two months after the ousting of the Brazilian Valdo Candido Filho, Paul Put, on the name of the Congolese authorities, put down his baggage in Brazzaville the day after a disappointment throughout the qualifiers for CAN 2021 in Cameroon. So as to make folks overlook this elimination, the Congolese Soccer Federation (FECOFOOT) had made it some extent of honor to supply the general public a primary qualification of the nationwide staff for a closing section of the World Cup.
So a reliable tactician was wanted. Congo will even set the bar somewhat excessive. “Maintain a high-level teaching diploma (minimal, the A CAF, UEFA A license or equal), have good worldwide expertise and a great information of African and worldwide soccer, be keen to reside in Congo, particularly in Brazzaville at some stage in his contract, and have a great capacity to adapt and a flair for teamwork”, may we learn in a press launch from FECOFOOT.
And after “a meticulous examination” of the sixty functions, the Congolese authorities set their sights on Paul Put.
And Paul could not…nothing
Sadly on the highway to Qatar, Congo will come throughout giants of continental soccer in Group H: Togo, Namibia and particularly Senegal of a sure Sadio Mané. And the Crimson Devils will come out of those playoffs in final place with solely three factors, i.e. three attracts, three defeats and nil wins.
In such an surroundings and confronted with such adversaries, Paul Put may do nothing, regardless of his willpower to “rewrite a phenomenal web page within the historical past of Congolese soccer”, as he had promised after his presentation to the general public in Might 2021 by FECOFOOT.
In lower than two years on the head of the Crimson Devils, the person with zero defeats with Kenya (4 wins and a pair of attracts from 2017 to 2018) has already recorded six losses, 4 attracts and 6 defeats with Congo-Brazzaville. And he’s one step away from his document seven defeats with The Gambia from 2008 to 2011.
A harvest a lot beneath the expectations of the Congolese that the authorities didn’t hesitate to inform the technician in October and December 2022 of their intention to separate from him. However “amicably”. It’s subsequently a Paul Put below excessive strain and whose decisions have typically raised questions and indignation (case of Bifouma, just one purpose in 20 matches since 2020) who should tackle the remainder of the qualifiers for CAN 2023 and provide the Congolese a eighth participation in a CAN closing section. A setback would subsequently be one misstep too many. The stakes are subsequently excessive for the native of Antwerp.
Supply: sportnewsafrica
