The absence of a national coach from the coaching staff of the national football team, led by Moroccan Badou Zaki, has puzzled observers and fans, given the technical and administrative value of having local coaching expertise.
اضافة اعلان
The question is not new. It follows earlier comments by the Moroccan coach at the press conference the football association held to present him and sign his contract a few months ago. At that time, he announced that national coach Ibrahim Al-Saqqar would join his staff, stressing that the work would be collective and team-spirited, with the aim of finding the best possible formula to serve the national team and achieve its goals. But the picture looked different at the latest press conference, held last Saturday, when Zaki said he had asked Al-Saqqar to work with the Olympic team, and that there is currently no local coach and there will not be one.
This situation has opened a debate about the value of doing without a national coach on the staff. The assistant coach's role is not limited to carrying out technical instructions or taking part in training sessions. It extends to offering a deeper reading of the local game, the nature of competitions, players' abilities, and the circumstances surrounding them. A national coach has accumulated knowledge of the Jordanian player, understands their character and football environment, and can act as an important link between the head coach and the players, helping speed up communication and adaptation.
The importance of having a national coach on the squad grows when it comes to monitoring players in domestic competitions, tracking their form, liaising with club coaching staffs, and providing technical information that a foreign head coach may not have to the same extent. This was evident in the scale of the objections to the national team's latest squad.
A local coach also offers the chance to exchange experiences and have direct contact with a different coaching school, and gives Jordanian coaching talent room to develop, learn and take part in technical decision-making, rather than being limited to following youth teams or working away from the senior side. Many football associations make sure there are local coaches on the staffs of teams led by foreign coaches, recognising the value of combining external technical experience with local knowledge, which supports stable work and improves the chances of success.
The football association's responsibility is clearly in play in explaining why the national coach is absent from the staff, especially since the earlier announcement of Ibrahim Al-Saqqar's appointment created a different picture for observers, before his work was redirected to the Olympic team. Support for national coaches should not be limited to statements and slogans. It should become a clear policy that allows Jordanian talent to take part in the coaching staffs of national teams and gain experience by working directly with coaches who have different backgrounds.
National coach Abdul Salam Al-Haymah said the presence of a national coach within a foreign coaching staff for the national team is a technical and moral necessity, as a local coach can serve as a positive link between the player and the foreign coach, which makes communication easier and reflects positively on technical details.
Administrative expert Raed Al-Takroury believes that having a national coach on the national team's coaching staff is essential and a duty, not merely a cosmetic addition or a response to public demand.
He told Al Ghad: "The national team represents the entire Jordanian football system, and it is only natural for the national coach to have an active presence within the coaching staff, ensuring that his experience and knowledge of the players and the domestic league are put to use."
Al-Takroury noted that a national coach can provide important information to a foreign or Arab head coach, whether about players' abilities, the nature of competitions, or psychological and social aspects, as well as playing a role in facilitating communication and building trust between the coaching staff and the players.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting by Yahya Qatishat.
