September 27, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 26, 1429

DOHA (Qatar), Sept 26: Days after resigning as coach of United Arab Emirates, Bruno Metsu took charge of Qatar on Thursday with a two-year contract.

Metsu quit UAE on Monday with a contract to 2010. UAE lost its two World Cup qualifiers this month to start the final round in Asia.

Qatar, meanwhile, has a win and a draw to lead the other qualifying group in Asia. However, Jorge Fossati left as manager on Monday to recover from surgery.

Metsu, who signed a two-year agreement with the Qatar Football Association, pledged at his introduction on Thursday to help the tiny Persian Gulf state reach the 2010 World Cup.

“I am up for this new challenge,” the 54-year-old Frenchman said. “All my life I have taken up challenges and have tasted success. My new challenge is to take Qatar to the World Cup. It is a personal dream of mine to reach this goal.”

Metsu guided Senegal to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, and helped Doha club Al Gharrafa win the Qatar league title in 2005.

His first task will be to take Qatar to Australia for the next qualifier on Oct. 15. Qatar has beaten Uzbekistan and drawn against Bahrain.

“In order to reach South Africa (for the World Cup), we have to succeed against Australia and Japan, two of the top teams in Asia,” Metsu said. “I know that Australian players have great fitness levels, and keeping that in mind we have decided to leave for Brisbane on Oct. 5 to get acclimatized with Australian playing conditions.”

He said he will retain the squad assembled by Fossati. “I would like to state that Fossati did a very good job and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Metsu said.—AP