UAE taps Guga as head coach

The former Bahrain coach takes the reins of the UAE beach soccer National team, replacing compatriot Marcelo Mendes

Every sport differs with the impact a coach can immediately bring to a team, though no one can argue that a great coach will make your team stronger. That is exactly what the UAE hope for and expect from Gustavo Zloccowick, to keep helping the UAE side grow and conquer more and more milestones. The expectations are high as “Guga” replaces Mendes, who recently joined Japan after a successful seven-year history with the Emirati National side.

Zloccowick has been a champion on the pitch as a player as well as behind the bench as a coach, and in more than one country. While most only wish they could visit three continents, this Brazilian born beach soccer expert has been a champion on three. He led the Brazil National team to multiple titles, most recently the Copa America in 2012 in Brazil. He also took the Bahrain National team to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2006 Rio de Janeiro after taking first place in the Asian qualifier. On the old continent Gustavo also guided Portugal to their first ever Mundialito championship, and he did it against Brazil in the final. He has also worked extensively with club teams in Russia and Brazil and helped line their trophy cases with titles as well.

The accolades do not stop there as he is also an official FIFA Instructor who been a part of many training sessions all over the world. The experience is there, the ability is there, the desire is there, and the all proof is there to show everyone why the UAE, already a formidable force in beach soccer, have more bright days ahead and their new coach made the right move to keep them on the top of the Asian Beach Soccer.

Guga is really looking forward to begin this new stage in his successful coaching career, with some truly demanding: “I  am very happy to take this challenge and I hope to do a great job. We know that 2014 it is year of Asian Beach Soccer with important competitions, and this is precisely what brings me here to UAE: the opportunity to combat in many different top-notch competitions and the chance to fight for the first places in all those competitions“, he assures.

The brazilian manager does not want to forget about the task of his predecessor, Marcelo Mendes, who he praises with admiration: “The UAE National Team is today one of the best teams in Asia, and this is precisely thanks to the excellent job by Marcelo. I just hope to keep collecting good results and help the team grow.”

After having coached the national sides of Portugal, Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and Brazil, the expectations are high for him to make the UAE fly, something he wants to respond to: “The Dubai Sports Council gives a great support to Beach Soccer, and I feel I have the responsibility to pay back with hard work to always put UAE on the top.“