Spanish coach Jose Martenez has breezed into Banjul to resume his role as Scorpions coach after ending a brief trip to his native Spain. Coach Martenez returned barely a week before the commencement of the Amilcar Cabral Zone II tournament in Guinea Bissau in which is a participant.

Coach Martenez’ abrupt trip to Spain two weeks ago was greeted with an usual rumour that the Spaniard must had left unceremoniously.

However, such imaginative claims were flatly refuted by the Permanent Secretary of the Youth & Sport department, Mr Ebou Jobe, who maintained that the coach left ceremoniously to attend a mission in his native land, noting that he would be back before the Zone II competition.

And the Coach Martenez has, as expected, returned to Banjul as Scorpions look set to land their first-ever Zone trophy, when the regional tournament starts on November 30 in Bissau.

Coach Martenez was hired in March 2007 to take charge of the Scorpions shortly after the unceremonious departure of the out-of-favour German Antoine Hey.

Since his resumption to the post, Martenez led-Scorpions fetched valuable points in their two successive outings in the 2008 Nations Cup qualifier. He was nicknamed ‘lucky coach’ when Gambia beat Algeria 2-1 to wrap up their Nations Cup qualifier with a win, though the Ghana mission was unaccomplished.

Zone II fixtures

Meanwhile, the fixtures for eight-team tournament have been released by the organisers. The gallant Scorpions, who have been paired in Group B, along Mali, Guinea Conakry and Cape Verde, will square up against the Eagles of Mali on Saturday, December 1, in their opening match.

The Scorpions second group match will see them lock horns with Cape Verde on December 3, before facing the defending champions, Guinea Conakry, on  Wednesday, December 5, for the final group tie.