By Michael Madyira
Former Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa has begun discussions to be part of Carlos Queiroz’s backroom staff in the Qatar national team.
Queiroz was appointed Qatar coach earlier this week and is yet to finalise setting up his technical team.
De Sa said “maybe” he will join the ex-Portugal coach, as there have been initial discussions about taking up the role of assistant team coach.
“There has been one telephone meeting, and we discussed it. It was just initial talks — nothing else, that’s it,” De Sa told Scrolla.Africa.
“It will depend. So far it is just one phone call. But there is a lot to be discussed and still a way to go.”
Queiroz roped in the 58-year-old as assistant in his last two jobs, as Egypt and Iran coach respectively.
That came with guiding the Pharaohs to the final of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost to eventual champions, Senegal.
They failed to help Egypt qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup tournament, however, leading to their exit.
If De Sa joins Queiroz, it will see him returning to Qatar, where he was with Iran at the 2022 World Cup.
The Mozambique-born coaches’ history of working together dates back to the year 2000, when Queiroz was appointed Bafana Bafana coach and picked De Sa as his goalkeeper trainer.
They were back together in 2010 with the Portugal national team at the World Cup hosted by South Africa.
In the event that talks for the Qatar role collapse, De Sa will be in the market, up for grabs by Premier Soccer League teams.
With Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates battling for consistency this season, there could be a possibility of them changing their technical teams.
That might see them considering De Sa.
Pictured above: Roger de Sa and Carlos Queiroz
Image Source: Roger de Sa (Instagram)
