Nikolai’s contract ended on November 30 and SAI has already extended it for another three months despite the coach having expressed his desire for a stint till London Olympics.
Sources told PTI that AFI officials on Friday asked the Sports Ministry to renew the contracts of Nikolai and four other foreign coaches till London Olympics to ensure continuity in the preparations of the athletes who produced stupendous performances in the Commonwealth Games and the just-concluded Asian Games.
“The AFI officials have recommended the name of four coaches, including that of Nikolai, to give them contracts till London Olympics,” a source said. Besides Nikolai, other foreign coaches whose names have been recommended for new contracts were Dmitry Buldov, Iurri Ogorodnik and Alexander Krasilinikov. The AFI has also asked SAI to hire foreign coaches for seven other events.
Published 03 December 2010, 16:36 IST