Colombia name interim coach for football friendlies

Bogota : The Colombian Football Federation (FCF) has announced that national Under-20 coach Arturo Reyes will take charge of the senior men's team for friendlies against Venezuela and Argentina next month.

The announcement on Friday came amid an ongoing impasse between the FCF and incumbent coach Jose Pekerman, whose current contract expires on August 31, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to local media reports, the 68-year-old Argentine has been offered a new contract by the FCF but the parties have yet to agree on financial terms.

"It is still to be defined whether coach Jose Nestor Pekerman and his backroom staff will continue with the Colombian men's team," the FCF said on Friday, adding that Reyes would fill the role on an interim basis.

Colombia will meet Venezuela in Miami on September 7 followed by a clash with Argentina in New Jersey four days later.

Pekerman, who was appointed Colombia coach in 2012, led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil -- their best ever finish -- and the Round-of-16 of this year's tournament in Russia.