I Haven’t Signed Any Contract With Guus Hiddink – Ivory Coast FA President

Foreign and local media yesterday published stories of Guus Hiddink taking over Ivory Coast’s national team for a short-term World Cup contract. But FA president, Jacques Anoma, refuted the news as speculation.

He said no contract has been signed between his establishment and any coach from anywhere.

“I have not signed any contract with Guus Hiddink or any other coach,” Mr Anoma said.

He further explained that he had just returned from Europe, where he had a series of negotiations with top coaches and that before anything, he would give feedback to the Sports Ministry and the Head of State.

Anoma also clarified the issue of Hiddink’s enormous bill of $1 million widely criticised by the local media.

“Even if we’re going to pay Hiddink $1m for a short-term World Cup contract, that money does not come from taxpayers. FIFA allocates some money to qualified teams and that’s where we’ll be taking it from.”

Ivorian sports daily SuperSport reports that Guus Hiddink has signed a two-month contract with Ivory Coast and has been given 10 days to finalise his departure from Russia, where he had been coaching. The Ivory Coast FA’s website is silent on the issue.

There is total confusion in the Ivory Coast at the moment. The suspense is high and there is seemingly no source to trust.

Whose name is in that contract Anoma flew from Europe with? An answer might come in a few days.

A source at the FA headquarters told Goal.com that Ivorians will surely rejoice when the name will be revealed in days to come.

Yves Djo Bi, a sports journalist based in Abidjan, told Goal.com: “Mr Anoma is surely set but only being prudent because of the media craze.”


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