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Sports 18/09/2009 Pohang can help Farias realise World Cup dream
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Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Few doubt Sergio Farias’ dedication to Pohang Steelers. He is, after all, one of the most successful foreign managers in the K-League, winning the title in 2007, FA Cup last year and Peace Cup this week. However, even he admits there is a greater ambition behind his relentless quest for AFC Champions League (ACL) and domestic glory - the FIFA World Cup in 2014.

The Brazilian, whose side beat Busan I’Park in the two-legged Peace Cup final, wants desperately to stroll out as a national team manager when the FIFA World Cup goes to his home country in five years’ time.

Many fans in Korea Republic want him to take over the national team’s reigns immediately. But the 47-year-old Farias has no plans to interfere with current coach Huh Jung-moo’s preparations for South Africa next year.

Farias recently signed a two-year extension to his contract with the club and knows he must first prove his worth in the K-League and the ACL before entertaining national team desires.

“I’m always hungry for a win. The 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil and I want to participate in the tournament as a manager,” Farias was quoted as saying in Korean media.

“In order to move on to a bigger stage, I need to win more games as the Steelers’ manager. Winning can be beneficial for the team and the individuals who are part of it.

“I want to build Pohang into the top football club in Asia.”

The Korean media asked Huh about the Brazilian’s comments and he replied: “He is good enough to be the Korean national coach, and in 2014, the World Cup will be in his own country. So who knows?”

Farias’ next task is to face up to a countryman who has already strutted imperiously on the World Cup stage, Luis Filipe Scolari, the coach of Brazil’s title-winning 2002 side.

Scolari is head coach of Pohang’s ACL quarter-final opponents Bunyodkor, who boast players such as AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov and former Brazilian international and 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo.

If anything, Uzbek champions Bunyodkor have displayed even more urgency in their own quest to become number one in Asia, making them slight favourites when the first leg kicks off in Tashkent on Wednesday.

But Pohang are well-prepared, even sending two scouts to Tashkent recently to spy on Bunyodkor and gather information on their tactical prowess and key players.

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