THE Bahrain Football Association (BFA) have stepped up their search for the new senior men’s national team head coach, and are expected to announce their highly anticipated selection in the coming weeks.

Headed by BFA board member Ali Ahmed Al Buainain, the newly formed BFA national teams committee met Monday night for the first time with BFA president Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa in attendance.

The committee was informed of the coaches that are being considered to fill the national team post, which was vacated by Argentinian Gabriel Calderon who opted not to accept the BFA’s offer to return once his contract expired at the end of last month.

The committee will now study the credentials of each of the candidates and within the next week or two select the best suited for the task of leading Bahrain in the near future.

“We are now conducting the screening process for each of the coaches we have in mind,” Al Buainain told the GDN last night.

“Nothing is clear at the moment as to who we will select, but there are a few names that we like.”

It is understood that the BFA is looking into the profiles of candidates from Europe, South America and across the region. Al Buainain, however, would not reveal any names of the candidates.

“Basically, we’re looking at coaches from everywhere in the world,” he said. “We hope to make the best selection soon.”

Meanwhile, Al Buainain confirmed that renowned Bahraini tactician Mohammed Shamlan has been appointed as an assistant coach to the senior men’s national team, and will be a key member of the staff of whoever comes in to take over the duties of head coach.

The national teams committee recommended to the board during their meeting on Monday that Shamlan be given the opportunity, considering his experience and capabilities and following his fine work as an assistant to the now departed Calderon.

Confirmed

“It is confirmed, Shamlan is a national team assistant and he will be a part of the coaching staff of our new coach,” Al Buainain said.

The BFA national teams committee is comprised of Aref Abbasi, Shaikh Ziyad bin Faisal Al Khalifa, Fahad Al Mukharraq, Hassan Saeed, Khalifa Al Zayani and Hafez Al Dosari. They were all present during Monday’s meeting held at the BFA headquarters in Riffa.

Prior to his departure, the BFA exhausted all their efforts in trying to re-sign the well-respected Calderon.

The two parties held talks over several walks in an attempt to keep Calderon at the helm of the national team for the next two years, but following the breakdown of negotiations, the BFA decided to end all talks in early June and begin their search for a replacement.

Calderon did a fine job with Bahrain during his time as national team head. He inspired the kingdom’s side to a fine performance in this year’s 21st Gulf Cup, hosted in the country, and the Bahrainis finished a solid fourth in the prestigious competition.

Calderon also had the backing of the players, but he could not agree on a new deal with the BFA.