Olaroiu denies interest in UAE coaching job

Denzil Pinto 10:46 21/11/2016
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  • Cosmin Olaroiu insists any approach from the UAE Football Association would be rebuffed.

    The 47-year-old has been mentioned as a possible successor to Mahdi Ali, who was non-commital on his future following the Whites’ 2-0 victory over Iraq in their 2018 World Cup qualifier last week – a result which kept them fourth – one point behind joint-leaders Saudi Arabia and Japan – and in contention for one of the two automatic berths for Russia.

    But Olaroiu warned he has no desire to bring to an end his three-year Ahli tenure and insists any approach from the UAE Football Association would be rebuffed.

    “I have had questions like these asked in the past few days and today it’s the same question,” the 47-year-old, who coached Saudi Arabia at the 2015 Asian Cup, said after Saturday’s 2-0 Arabian Gulf League defeat to Al Jazira.

    “But like I’ve said before, I am the Al Ahli coach and I hope to win many titles with them and I will always give my best to Al Ahli. The (UAE) national team have a good coach and they have had some good results. I think they have a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup but I think people should believe in him (Ali) to do his job.”

    Olaroiu’s immediate task is to guide the reigning AGL champions back to winning ways after they were deservedly beaten by Jazira.AGL

    It was their first league loss in nearly a year and Olaroiu insists he faces a big task to ensure Ahli are in the hunt to retain their title.

    “We lost this battle against Al Jazira and now we have more battles that we have to win,” Olaroiu said of his team, who sit five points behind AGL leaders Al Wasl, although they have a game in hand.

    “We have to get through this situation but, in football, you get days like these.

    “Of course this season will be tough and many teams have improved. This time, the teams will be more closer to each other and it will be a tight contest until the last round.”

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