Sorba Thomas Advocates for Craig Bellamy's Retention as Wales Manager
Wales international Sorba Thomas has expressed strong support for head coach Craig Bellamy, acknowledging that the manager is a sought-after figure in football circles. Thomas stated that it is no surprise teams are attempting to "nab" Bellamy from his role with the national team, emphasizing the positive influence the coach has had on the squad.
Bellamy's Impact on Wales Squad
Since taking over as Wales boss, Craig Bellamy has led the team to promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, though they narrowly missed out on World Cup qualification after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a play-off semi-final. Despite this setback, Bellamy's contract runs until the end of Euro 2028, but he has been linked with several lucrative club positions, including a potential move to Celtic, where Martin O'Neill is currently serving as interim manager.
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney has previously described Bellamy as a "football genius," a sentiment echoed by Sorba Thomas. The Stoke City winger highlighted that many players have shown significant improvement under Bellamy's guidance. "You can see how different it is and what he's brought out of the players," Thomas remarked. "Not just myself, but a lot of the boys. You are seeing some of the boys playing their best football."
Thomas's Personal Growth and Team Outlook
Thomas, who scored his second international goal in a 1-1 friendly draw against Northern Ireland in Cardiff, credited Bellamy with elevating his game at both international and club levels. "I feel my game has elevated since he became involved and it's helped me at club level as well," he said. Reflecting on the recent friendly, which followed World Cup play-off defeats for both Wales and Northern Ireland, Thomas noted the match provided a timely opportunity for the team to regroup. "I felt the friendly came at the perfect time as opposed to not having the game and we're waiting too long," he explained.
Looking ahead, Wales have scheduled two summer friendlies, including a home game against Ghana on 2 June, before returning to competitive action in the autumn with Nations League A fixtures against Portugal, Denmark, and Norway. Thomas views this period as a crucial stepping stone for the team. "With all good stories, there has to be some kind of blip at the beginning," he said. "This is our blip and it's now about going into two friendlies in June with the right mindset and then the Nations League with a bit of confidence."
Call to Retain Bellamy for Future Success
Thomas urged the Football Association of Wales to make every effort to retain Bellamy, citing the manager's role in fostering player development and team cohesion. "I'm not surprised that he is a man in demand. I don't blame teams trying to nab him off us and we've got to try and keep him as long as possible because I feel success is going to come," he asserted. The winger emphasized the importance of learning from past disappointments, particularly for younger players, and focusing on upcoming challenges in the Nations League. "We're in League A and we'll be playing better teams and coming up against top players. It will be a good experience and it's about not having moments that we had on Thursday. It's about looking up and looking towards the future," Thomas concluded.
