Dutchman De Jongh Is Appointed As New Somalia Coach

Former Platinum and Highlanders coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh was named a new coach of Somalia on Sunday.

The 51-year-old, who arrived in the country on Saturday, replaces Moroccan coach Abdellatif Salef who was sacked in June last year.

The Somalia Football Federation (SFF) did not give any details on De Jongh’s contract but reports indicate that the coach has penned a one year contract.

De Jongh’s first game in charge will be during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in March, where the former eSwatini coach will be hoping to seal a group stages slot for the Ocean Stars.

He takes over a team that struggled and came under intense pressure due to poor results in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup qualifiers.

De Jongh boasts of over nine years of coaching experience in Africa. He has handled FC Cape Town in South Africa, Rwanda national team as technical director and eSwatini as national team.

He holds UEFA A, B and C coaching badges, a youth trainer coaching diploma and a FIFA technical director certificate all licensed by KNVD (Royal Dutch Football Association).