Skip to main content

Venezuela names former goalkeeper as coach amid cash crunch

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) Venezuela's national soccer team has named former goalkeeper Rafael Dudamel as its coach, replacing Noel Sanvicente after a so-far disastrous campaign to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

At a Caracas news conference Friday, the soccer federation said it had chosen Dudamel, 43, partly because money wasn't available to attract international candidates.

Federation president Laureano Gonzalez says state-run oil company PDVSA hasn't made contributions to the national squad for months and contributions from other sponsors have plunged in value as a result of triple-digit inflation.

Gonzalez said the federation would have looked for a world-class replacement if it had the money, adding that Venezuelans must adjust to the new reality.

© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.