Arno Pijpers was fired as Kazakhstan coach Monday after a disappointing start to the country’s World Cup qualification campaign. The Kazakhstan football federation made the decision ahead of a key qualifier against England at Wembley on Oct. 11. Youth team coach Bernd Storck will take over in a caretaker capacity while a full-time replacement is found, the federation said on its Web site.
Kazakhstan opened its campaign with a 3-0 victory over Andorra, but lost 3-0 at Croatia and 3-0 at home to Ukraine last week. “How long should we endure it?” Kazakhstan secretary-general Sayan Khamitzhanov said.
“We in the federation are ashamed of the existing situation and we all must apologize to the country’s fans for it. We will start seeking a new coach today.
” The 49-year-old Pijpers had been contracted with Kazakhstan until 2010. England and Ukraine are joint leaders of Group 6 with six points.
Kazakhstan has three points.