Bolivia in talks for new deal with coach Sanchez

LA PAZ, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Bolivia are in talks with coach Erwin “Platini” Sanchez for a new deal after his contract ended with this month’s last 2010 World Cup qualifiers, the Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) said on Friday.

“Mr Erwin Sanchez’s contract with the FBF ended with the last qualifier played between Peru and Bolivia in Lima (on Oct. 14),” FBF president Carlos Chavez said.

“This does not mean that “Platini” will or will not cease to be the national team coach,” he told a news conference.

FBF spokesman Javier Silva told Reuters: “We are constantly meeting to reach an agreement.”

Sanchez, whose team finished the 10-nation South American group one from bottom and out of the finals in South Africa, could be offered a new contract until next July, reports say. Bolivia last reached the World Cup finals in 1994.

Bolivia have two friendlies on a tour of Europe next month. They face Bulgaria in Sofia on Nov. 14 and play in Cyprus four days later. (Reporting by Diego Ore, editing by Justin Palmer; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)