Former Senior Scorpions coach Paul Put says it hurts him to see the Scorpions losing since his sacking from the position last year. The current Burkina Faso coach, who was ion a week’s visit to The Gambia was speaking in an exclusive interview with Observer Sports on Tuesday.

The Scorpions failed to win a single game since the former SK Lierse coach was sacked by his employers in October last year, and are currently on a run of one draw and three defeats in four matches. The team also conceded nine goals and scored only four. Paul who was speaking on the phone said he feels hurt and bad to see his former team going down the drain having been on the ascendency during his three-year stint.

His words: “It is paining me to see how things are going in terms of Gambia’s football at the moment since the seven months that I left because my love for this country hasn’t dropped a bit. Football is going back five steps behind in The Gambia and the Gambian people especially his Excellency the President [Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh]. He is a great man who wanted to do everything for Gambians and he doesn’ deserve this.”

Asked why the team’s performance is dropping rapidly as evidenced in the latest FIFA World Rankings released by football’s world governing body –dropping 20 places to 128th- last week, Paul said: “I have been saying this for three years as to what needs to be done in The Gambia and I think they all know what has to be done. There has to be professionalism from all kinds of levels to bring up football. Football intelligency and financial support is the way forward. You need to work with people who know football and give them the opportunity to work.”

Paul Put also intimated that he came to the Smiling Coast of Africa to visit some of his “many friends” and is pleased with the affection that the Gambian people have shown him. But said he is equally happy with Burkina Faso even though he wouldn’t completely rule out a return to The Gambia in future.

He continued: “I still love this country and that will never change but equally I am very happy at Burkina Faso. I have been appreciated by the nation and I have the total support of the President of the Federation and the Ministry of Sports who has given me everything that I requested for since my arrival. But you can never say never in football and I know Gambians love me and my heart is with them and if tomorrow they come back for me and with better conditions to work, who knows I might decide to come back.”

The Belgian was also asked about the refusal of some of the key players to honour international invitations since his sacking. Many players have also openly criticised Paul’s predecessor, the Italian Mancini for not being good enough with somesaying that is why they refusal to play. But Paul declined to comment on that.

Hopes of securing CAN qualification

Burkina has been paired to play the Central African Republic in a double-legged affair for a place in the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Several of the Stallions players including Olympic Marseille’s Charles Kabore and Alain Traore of Auxere have spoken highly of Paul Put but the Belgian despite being confident remains cautious of the giant killers, CAR.

“It will not be easy against the CAR becasue they have knocked out Egypt [seven-time African champions] in the last round of qualifiers but I have the confidence in my players that they can do the job. For the players to speak highly of me makes me feel good because these are players playing in top European leagues and worked under several high caliber coaches but my main focus is to secure qualification to the Nations Cup,” Paul Put who left Banjul yesterday concluded.