Veteran manager Mahmoud Al-Gohari has refused the idea of coaching Egypt's Under-20 in the 2009 World Cup finals. Al-Gohari, who is supervising Jordanian national teams, has cited his commitment to his current post as the primary reason to turn down the Egyptian offer. “I'm happy working in Jordan and it will be very hard for me to leave now,” Al-Gohari told Egyptian Sports Radio Al-Shabab Wal Riyadah late on Monday. The 70-year-old tactician has been linked to the job after the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) failed to reach an agreement with Portuguese manager Eduardo Vingada. But the former national team coach insisted he did not find the offer appealing. “I'm past coaching national teams,” he said. “I wouldn't return to Egypt to coach the youth team or the national team for that matter.”
The veteran coach guided Egypt to African glory in 1998 “But I would like to thank the EFA officials for showing interest in my services.” Al-Gohari revealed he received another offer to return to Egypt, but in a different capacity. “Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Sameh Fahmi, has offered me the position of supervisor for all the ministry's football teams (ENPPI, Petrojet, Asyut Petroleum and GASCO),” he said. “I might take him up on the offer when my contract with the Jordanian FA expires next year.” Al-Gohari had guided Ahli to their first African Champions League trophy in 1982 and helped Egypt reach the 1990 World Cup finals in 1990 before winning the African Cup of Nations eight years later.
