German Sidka to head Iraq's Asian Cup defence

The former Werder Bremen and Bahrain coach is appointed by the Iraqi Football Association ahead of their Asian Cup defence next year.

SINGAPORE // The former Werder Bremen and Bahrain coach Wolfgang Sidka has signed a one-year deal to become the new boss of Iraq, who defend their Asian Cup title in Qatar next January. The German, 56, was unveiled at a press conference by the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) president Hussein Saeed in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil yesterday, the Asian Football Confederation website reported. "My mission with the Iraqi team will not be easy because I will be the manager during the Asian Cup," Sidka was quoted as saying. "I will be sure to put together a strong side."

Sidka, who was Werder coach in the late 1990s, already has experience of coaching in Asia through stints in charge of Bahrain and two Qatari club sides. Iraq's Asian title defence had looked in jeopardy earlier this month when they were on the brink of suspension from international soccer because of a political power struggle that has paralysed the IFA. Two attempts to elect a new president in Arbil last month failed because too few delegates made the journey to the city in Iraqi Kurdistan, where Fifa had decided the vote should take place for security reasons.

Fifa, however, last week gave the IFA one year to settle the row, which highlighted sectarian divisions in the country seven years after the US-led invasion. Iraq has been grouped with Iran, the UAE and North Korea for next year's Asian Cup, which takes place from January 7-29. * Reuters