New coach appointed for Venezuela's national team
Fernando Batista, who was José Néstor Pekerman's assistant coach, will seek to lead Venezuela to their first World Cup
The Argentine Fernando Batista will be the new coach of Venezuela with a view to the qualifying rounds for the 2026 World Cup, two days after the departure of his compatriot José Pekerman, the local federation reported.
"Today I am here to announce who will be in charge of our national team: it will be Mr. Fernando Batista," said Jorge Giménez, president of the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF), at a press conference.
'Bocha' Batista, 52, was Pekerman's assistant coach. Giménez specified that he has signed a four-year contract, and will make his debut as Venezuela's head coach - the only South American country that has never qualified for the World Cup - in friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, scheduled for March 24 and 28 in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Pekerman, 73, took over the Vinotinto in November 2021 with the promise of leading a restructuring of Venezuelan football.
Giménez avoided giving details about the rupture between the FVF and Pekerman and his right-hand man and agent, Pascual Lezcano. "Let the lawyers do their work," was the official's evasive response.
Non-payment and working conditions demanded by Pekerman were the breaking point according to reports in the Argentine press, but reports in Venezuela indicate that the rift stemmed from "irregularities" in Lezcano's management as national team manager, which were allegedly uncovered in an audit.
Neither Giménez nor Pekerman have confirmed any of these versions.
Several members of his predecessor's team will accompany Batista in the coaching staff: the Argentines Leandro Cufré and Jorge Pidal, and the Venezuelan Vicente Rosales. AFP