NEW DELHI, May 22 (PTI): Former Dutch international Wim Koevermans is all set to take over as the chief coach of the Indian football team for a two-year term, ending a more than a year�s search for a full-fledged occupant for the top job.
Following All India Football Federation�s sacking of Englishman Bob Houghton early last year, Armando Colaco and Savio Medeira � whose contract expires on May 31 � were given short stints, but they failed to yield much success.
Another Dutchman Rob Baan, who was appointed Technical Director in October last year, was given the responsibility to search for the chief coach and he has handpicked compatriot Koevermans for the job
AIFF vice-president A R Khaleel said that Koevermans� appointment will be approved by the Executive Committee early next month and the Dutchman will take charge soon after that.
�The appointment of Koevermans is more or less certain now. The president (Praful Patel) has given the go-ahead and he (Koevermans) has accepted the terms and conditions of the contract. The Executive Committee is meeting on June 7 or 8 and it will give the final approval,� he said.
�Initially, he will be given a two-year contract and if the performance of the national team under him is satisfactory his contract will be extended,� he added. If appointed, Koevermans� first job at the helm will be the Nehru Cup expected to be held here in August and he will have an enormous task of rebuilding a national team which is in a transition phase after the exit of some stalwarts and whose FIFA rankings have been dipping for some time.
51-year-old Koevermans, who was in the Netherlands 1988 Euro Championships-winning squad but had not played in the tournament, possesses an impressive credential though he played only one international match.
