Madagascar unveil Heiniger as new coach

ANTANANARIVO (Reuters 20.08.2002) -- Madagascar unveiled Swiss Hans Heiniger as their new coach on Monday, marking his return to African football after a brief hiatus.

The 61-year-old Heiniger has not yet signed a formal contract but officials said the matter would be settled after Madagascar's African Nations Cup qualifier against Egypt in Antananarivo on September 7.

Previously, the former Swiss international worked in Burkina Faso, Tunisia, the Gambia and Mali, where he was coach until last year of Olympique de Bamako.

Heiniger served as the Gambia's national coach for four years and also worked at Alicante in Spain and in his home country.

He told a press conference in Antananarivo on Monday that he had high hopes of beating the fancied Egyptians in their opening group 10 qualifier.

"It's not just me that should seek to win against Egypt but the whole of the Malagasy people," he told reporters.

Madagascar have never qualified for the Nations Cup finals and also share the group with fellow Indian Ocean islanders Mauritius. Only the group winners will qualify for the 2004 finals in Tunisia.

Heiniger's predecessor Jean Chry Razafimaharo will now become his assistant, officials said.