Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The former coach of Jordan's National Football Team Adnan Hamad claimed that some of Al-Nashama team's players took "drugs" before their recent matches in part of the World Cup qualifiers.

In an interview with MBC's football program, "Sada al-Mala'eb" on Thursday evening, Hamad expressed the difficult conditions and pressures facing Jordanian players, including injuries, claiming that some players had to take "relaxants" to allow them to endure the matches.

Hamad did not clarify whether he meant relaxants or enhancement drugs, noting only that the players had taken legal drugs before their recent matches with Australia and Oman.

Hamad's 4-year contract as head coach of Jordan's al-Nashama expired last week on the even of Jordan's World Cup qualifier match with Oman, in which Jordan beat its visiting team 1-0.

Jordan's National Football Association on Tuesday announced hiring Egyptian coach Hussam Hassan to succeed Hamad.

Hamad is reportedly offered a 4-year $15-million per year contract from the Qatari Football Association, Qatari media reports said.

Hamad was named as head coach of Al Nashama in February 2009, coaching the team to reach unprecedented victories in both the Asian Cup and the World Cup qualifiers.

New coach Hassan would oversee Jordan heading towards the Asian zone playoff for the first time in the kingdom's history.

Jordan is set to meet Uzbekistan on September 6 and 10 in the Asian Zone playoff after finishing third behind Japan and Australia, the top two teams in group B to qualify directly for the 2013 World Cup.

Jordan and Uzbekistan will be competing for a chance to qualify via an intercontinental qualifying tie. The winner will play the fifth place team from South America (winner of a series between Venezuela and Uruguay) for a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.