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| Tom Saintfiet left the PMNFT for Mali with only one week to go before the Merdeka Tournament. PFF (file photo) |
MANILA--In a huge blow to the Philippine Men's National Football Team's gear-up for the Merdeka Tournament, the national team let go of head coach Tom Saintfiet.
On Thursday, the Philippine Football Federation confirmed that the Belgian gaffer will leave the team after only six months.
Freddy Gonzalez, PFF's director of senior national teams, admitted that they had to part ways with Saintfiet after he received a "bigger opportunity" in the form of an offer to coach Mali's national team.
Filipino football fans woke up to reports that Saintfiet accepted the new coaching stint.
“From my first meeting with Tom, this is something we had discussed that if a bigger opportunity came to him that I wouldn’t stand in his way. Tom came into the Philippine job with every intention of helping with our project, but his heart has always been in Africa. We thank him for his service and wish him well in his new role,” the former PMNFT star said.
With less than a week left before the start of the four-nation pocket tournament during the September FIFA window at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, the PFF must now scramble to find a new mentor.
Despite the late challenge, Gonzalez is optimistic that they could find a new coach that aligns with their vision for the world number 147 PMNFT, essentially seeded last in the Merdeka Tournament that also includes Tajikistan, Lebanon, and host country Malaysia.
“With the Merdeka Cup around the corner, and preparations for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup ramping up, we need to move on quickly from this. We are already looking for candidates to take on the head coach role. I’m confident in finding a man that will be committed to our vision,” Gonzalez further said.
The PMNFT will take on Malaysia on Sept. 4 and will next face either Tajikistan or Lebanon on Sept. 8.
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