Walter Wilson Nana, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
Frenchman Henri Michel has officially signed a contract to become the coach of the Nzalang Nationale of Equatorial Guinea. Information from Malabo have it that Michel's contract with the Equato-Guinean football authorities will last till the end of the African Cup of Nations 2012, both parties announced.
Michel, who was coach of France in 1984 and 1988, signed the contract following negotiations initiated by his compatriot, Philippe Troussier, former coach of Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco. Troussier travelled to Malabo recently to clinch the deal.
Michel’s contract has thirteen-month duration till after the AFCON in February 2012, the Equatorial Guinea Secretary of State for Sports, Ruslan Obiang Nsue, who is also Co-President of the Organising Committee of the 2012 AFCON, declared at a recent press conference. “We have signed a contract with a big coach. Henry Michel will be coming with three collaborators,” Obiang Nsue said.
On the mission of the new coach, he said: “His mission is to cross the first round of the competition. You know that Equatorial Guinea has never participated at the final phase of the AFCON.
Michel replaces the Paraguayan, Carlos Lobo Diarte, who has managed the Nzalang Nationale since 2009. According to officials of the Equato-Guinea Football Federation, the former coach has not worked with the team since last August for health reasons.
Henri Michel responded “My ambition is to create a solid team and succeed in the AFCON. It’s an opportunity and needs the participation of everyone, thus the public must be patient,” he told the people of Equatorial Guinea.
The signing of the contract with Michel represents a great day for Equatorial Guinean football, says the President of FEGUIFOOT, Bonifacio Manga Obiang.
He revealed to AFP that the contract of the Frenchman indicates that he will receive 60.000 Euros per month for himself and his collaborators and he would take residence in the country. “Henri Michel will receive 30,000 Euros monthly while his collaborators will take the rest. He will stay in Equatorial Guinea,” he said.
Frenchman Henri Michel has officially signed a contract to become the coach of the Nzalang Nationale of Equatorial Guinea. Information from Malabo have it that Michel's contract with the Equato-Guinean football authorities will last till the end of the African Cup of Nations 2012, both parties announced.
