Angola’s new national coach Herve Renard has set qualification for the 2012 African Cup of Nations as a minimum target in his quest to revitalise the Palancas Negras.
He want to work with local players just like Hassan Shehata.
In an interview from his new base in Luanda, the Frenchman asked the Angolan public to be patient with him, saying there was “much work to be done” in rebuilding the squad.
The former Zambia coach was last week named as the replacement for Manuel Jose, the Portuguese mentor who led Angola during the African Cup of Nations in January.
Jose left after Angola’s hopes of being crowned African champions on home soil were dashed in the quarter-finals by Ghana.
But Renard, 42, believes the oil-producing country can reproduce the form that saw them rub shoulders with the world’s elite at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
The Frenchman hopes to invigorate the Palancas Negras ahead of September’s first round of 2012 Nations Cup qualifiers, saying his top priority will be to restore faith among the players.
He said: “I would like to spend a lot of time working with the local players”.
“There are some big teams in Angola, like Petro Atletico and Primeiro de Agosto, so it’s important for me to watch the players every week.
“If the clubs agree, I would also like to hold regular training camps with the local players and develop them for the national team.”
Renard saw his stock rise after he guided an unfancied Zambian side through a tough group at the Nations Cup, finishing top ahead of Cameroon, Tunisia and Gabon.
He told BBC Sport that the key to Zambia’s success was an emphasis on hard work and commitment, and revealed he wants to instil the same mentality in the Angolan players.
