Paul Put Named As New Congo Coach In Shock Move

Frenchman Paul Put, who was once banned from coaching for life, has taken over as new coach of Congo-Brazzaville.

The 65-year-old has agreed a two-year deal with the Red Devils which takes effect from June 1, the Congo Football Federation (Fecofoot) announced on its official website on Thursday.

Put succeeds Barthélémy Ngastono,who was fired after Congo-Brazzaville lost in Guinea-Bissau and failed to qualify for the 2021 Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

“I came to Congo to rewrite a beautiful page in the history of Congolese football. I am aware of the quality of the players. But in football even if the talents are available, a real team spirit is necessary, ”Put said during unveiling.

This is Put’s fifth national team in Africa after leading Gambia, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Guinea.

His major task will be to qualify Congo-Brazzaville for the 2023 Nations Cup in Ivory Coast, with qualifying beginning next year.

The Frenchman’s other task will be to steer the Red Devils for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Russia and his first game will be against Namibia.

In his last national team coaching job with Syli Nationale , Put was placed on life ban by the Guinea Football Federation (Feguifoot) for allegedly breaching the institution’s code of ethics and its code of discipline.

That followed his sack in July 2019 over what Feguifoot stated that it was due to poor results”.

It also added that there had been an atmosphere of mistrust created and maintained by the coach between the players and the technical staff.