JEDDAH, 20 December 2005 — The national team committee at the Saudi Football Federation (SFF) announced that Hilal coach Bakita is going to coach the first national team.
Argentine Gabriela Calderon resigned and left to his country, citing personal reasons. The contract states that the new coach will lead the national team until 2007.
Bakita will coach the national team during 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Gulf Cup and the Asian Cup.
The contract of the former coach was terminated due to the unsatisfactory performance of the national team in West Asian Games in Qatar. The national team committee was not convinced that the national team was adequately prepared for the World Cup matches.
Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, deputy president of the Youth Welfare Presidency, will sign the contract with the new coach today in his office in Riyadh. Prince Nawaf thanked Hilal’s president, Prince Muhammad ibn Faisal, for his quick cooperation with the national team committee to sign the coach.
He also thanked the Argentine coach for his efforts during his time. He ordered the Saudi Football Federation to pay all the financial dues for the Argentine coach in addition to an end-of-service financial reward.
