Canadian Press
Aug 6 2004

Ex-Marseille coach takes over as head of Armenian national soccer
team

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Former Marseille coach Bernard Casoni took
over as head of Armenia’s national soccer team, saying Friday that he
is ready to work hard to achieve good results for this ex-Soviet
republic.

“I am not a magician – good results will be achieved gradually,”
Casoni told a news conference in the Armenian capital. He added that
his first impression was that the team had some good talent, who
needed “only to be led forward.”

Former coach Mihai Stoichita resigned in late June, less than two
months before the start of World Cup qualifying. Armenia plays its
first qualifier on Aug. 18, against Macedonia.

Casoni said he was focusing on that game, adding that he had
previously known very little about Armenian soccer or the national
team.

Ruben Airapetian, head of the Armenian soccer federation, said that
he had signed a one-year contract with Casoni. He added that he would
be paying the money for the French coach “from my pocket” since the
Armenian federation lacked cash.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress