THE HAGUE, April 12, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Netherlands football coach Louis van
Gaal insisted Monday that he was fit enough to lead his nation to the World
Cup finals saying his prostate cancer treatment has been successful.

   Van Gaal, 70, said ten days ago he had been receiving treatment since
being diagnosed in 2020, but still plans to lead his team at the World Cup in
Qatar in seven months' time.

   "I had 25 sessions of chemotherapy. Then I had to wait five or six months
to see if that had worked. It has," he told the ANP press agency.

   The former Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United coach also
underwent surgery.

   The no-nonsense Van Gaal managed the Oranje between 2000-2002 and 2012-
2014, when they finished third at the World Cup in Brazil.

   He then returned to the Dutch national team after the resignation of Frank
de Boer in the aftermath of the country's last-16 exit from Euro 2020.

   The Netherlands were placed in Group A with hosts Qatar, Ecuador and
Senegal in Friday's draw.