Dubai
The UAE coach has called for a strong response from the national team following their sub-level showing at the Sixth Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup.
From the total five, the UAE lost four and won only on the final day to resurrect some pride and finish with a seventh spot in the eight-team competition.
“The Intercontinental Cup is one of the strongest in the world. But we need to forget this now and start focusing on the World Cup qualifiers. We need this now,” Gustavo Henrique Zloccowick (Guga) told media following the hosts’ 4-3 win against USA late on Saturday.
“In life we learn through everything, be it mistakes or the good results. Finishing seventh is not good for our CV at all, but yet there are so many things we can learn. We have to work hard, concentrate all the time and look at beach soccer in a very professional manner, as it has become a professional sport today,” he added.
Guga further added that he was open to discussions on his future as UAE coach. “So far we do not know about the plan. Everything in life needs a plan. I am sure the UAE will be one of the best teams in Asia and 2017 will be the year of UAE beach soccer, with me or without me. I expect this team to get good results. I think this tournament has opened the eyes of many people,” he said.
The Asian qualifiers for the 2017 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup are scheduled to be held in Malaysia in February next year. “Now I ask to put a plan together for the team. It is time to sit with people in the UAE Football Association and plan for the future, and then prove they will do it,” Guga added.
The Brazilian, who has a contract till February 2017, was open to discussions about his future with the squad. “With me or without me, I am confident the UAE will respond strongly in the near future. Perhaps our performance opened our eyes that we need more support,” he said.
