Incorrigible Troussier on his guns

MiddleeastFootball - Only few days after creating havoc here in Qatar following claims that the local FA is contemplating naturalizing foreign players, French manager Philippe Troussier has a different version backing his position.

Talking on Saturday to London-based Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat, the Frenchman said “just why all the fuss about this? We already know almost all the squad I have under my guide are naturalized outfits.

“Of course it is not my business having a decision in this respect, it’s up to the FA. But then again, I am a coach having the mission of fostering the overall status of the national team and I strongly believe this idea would be feasible if to make a neat progress towards the upcoming World Cup finals in two-year time, he added.

French TV network TF1 and large sports daily L’Equipe have quoted Troussier as saying last Tuesday “naturalization is the best way for Qatar to make it to the 2006 World Cup finals.”

“We are all aware that naturalizing foreign players has been a long-standing project by the Qatari FA and having backed the idea myself doesn’t mean it is an initial brain-child of mine,” he concluded.

Sources in-the-know confirmed to the paper that QFA is currently undergoing extensive talks with 6 French players of African origins in order to defend the colours of the tiny state in the current World Cup qualifiers.

Qatar started Group 1 qualifying campaign on Wednesday with a 3-1 defeat away to Iran in Tehran.