Artur Jorge Ready To Coach Cameroon Again

Artur Jorge coached Cameroon from November 2004 to March 2006 and is on the shortlist to become the new national coach of the African side.

The Portuguese coach, who has spent most of his career in Portugal and France is being considered alongside ex-Olympique de Marseille and Bordeaux coach Rolland Courbis, and Paul Le Guen, who has just left his job at the helm of Paris Saint-Germain.

Contrary to his rivals, who have no experience as national team managers, Jorge has a great deal of familiarity with such a task. He has declared to Camfoot.com that he is more than eager to go back to Cameroon and help them qualify for both the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"Yes, of course I would agree to return to Cameroon... I already know the environment and the local customs. I worked with very good players,” he enthused. “The quality of our training, the spirit of the group, our discipline and our matches, everything improved. We had very good matches, plus I have always thought that [my] future was there."

When he left in 2006, a few months before the World Cup in Germany, Jorge was in a very tumultuous relationship with the Minister of Sports but kept the confidence of the president of the FA. It is said in the local press that the president of the FA is using all his power to make the return of the Portuguese as quick, smooth and seamless as possible.

Cameroon are in a very difficult position in their group and could be shockingly eliminated from the race to the next World Cup. The plan is to find a new coach before the next qualifier, which takes place on September 5 in Libreville against Gabon, who are leaders of the Group A.

Massaër Ndiaye, Goal.com