The Argentinian Fernando “Bocha” Batista kept his link with the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) and will take over as head of the national team to replace his compatriot José Pekermanwhom he accompanied as a member of his coaching staff.
He President of the FVF, Jorge Giménez, announced this Friday at a press conference that Batista will work together with three other components of the previous administration: Leandro Cufré (camp assistant), Jorge Pidal (physical trainer) and Vincent Rosales (goal coach).
Along with Pekermanwhose departure was made official last Wednesday, His manager, Pascual Lezcano, and technical collaborator Patricio Camps left.
The FVF explained in a statement that The removal of the Argentine coach, who spent 15 months in office, occurred under the precept that all the members of a working group “share the highest standards of commitment and delivery“.
In that message, the entity specified the “termination of the employment relationship” with Pekerman and Lezcano, whom versions of the local press pointed out for committing administrative irregularities.
Batista, 52, younger brother of Sergio “Checho” Batista –world champion in Mexico ’86–, will have his first experience in charge of a senior national team after playing in youth teams in Armenia, Argentina and Venezuela.
He Bocha, former defender of Argentinos Juniors, San Lorenzo, Godoy Cruz and All Boys, led the Sub 20 and the Argentine Olympic team, with whom he was Pan American champion in Lima 2019 and winner of the Colombia Pre-Olympic the next year.
In November last year, Batista left the structure of the AFA team, which he shared with Lionel Scaloni, to join the Pekerman project in the “Vinotinto”. His debut will take place at the end of the month, when Venezuela will play two friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in the city of Jeddah, on Thursday 23 and Tuesday 28.