Cole to train U20 women

 UNITED States-based coach Lisa Cole, pictured, has agreed to help prepare the Papua New Guinea team for next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Port Moresby.

PNG Football Association president David Chung said his executives had endorsed her and she would take up her position by January 2016.

Cole, a former US international, submitted a training programme to her assistant Margaret Aka, who will oversee the training until she arrives.

There is a training squad in place and the selection committee is continuing to scout for players for the U20 team. 

Chung said players would be on a full-time training schedule, which included several international friendlies in preparation for the World Cup.

“We are in discussion with student players, their parents and the education department to release them for one year to prepare fulltime for the important event.

“We want players who can commit themselves to training fulltime,” he said.

The PNG soccer chief said a lot of players from Germany, France and USA were full-time professional footballers and would be out to represent their country next November in Port Moresby.

“We need to adopt a professional approach to be competitive as we don’t want cricket scorelines against the European opponents,” Chung said.

“PNG now has a good coach, who has the expertise and can prepare the team well for the World Cup.”

Although one year seemed too short, PNGFA was confident in Cole’s ability to deliver favourable results.