New Coach Takes Over Myanmar Soccer Team

Former Indonesian coach Ivan Kolev has taken charge of Burma’s national soccer team on a one-year contract ahead of the regional Tiger Cup tournament, an official said Friday.

Bulgarian-born Kolev arrived last Saturday, “just in time to coach our team as they prepare for the Tiger Cup, which is one of our big tournaments,” Tin Aung, the secretary of the Myanmar Football Federation, told the AP.

Kolev coached Indonesia when it hosted the last Tiger Cup in 2002. Indonesia reached the final where it was beaten on penalties by Thailand.

He also coached Indonesia at this years Asian Cup in China, leading it to its first ever win in the competition, over Qatar.

Kolev was replaced by Englishman Peter With, Thailand’s former national soccer coach, after his contract expired in August and returned to his native Bulgaria before accepting the job in Rangoon.

Burma was coached by Englishman David Booth from 2000 to 2003. The team was under a Burmese caretaker coach until Kolev’s arrival.

Burma has been drawn in Group B for this year’s Tiger Cup, which will be played December in Malaysia and Vietnam. Burma will meet hosts Malaysia, defending champions Thailand, East Timor and Philippines during the group stage in Kuala Lumpur from Dec 7 to 16.

Tin Aung did not give details of Kolev’s one-year contract.