Former US pro Cole is women’s coach

 By HENRY MORABANG

THE Papua New Guinea Football Association has appointed former US professional player, Lisa Cole, as the new Under-20 women’s coach ahead of next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup.

Cole, pictured, was selected out of 20 applicants for the job.

Association president David Chung yesterday confirmed Cole’s appointment.

He said Cole is expected to arrive in the country on Sept 7 and will spend a week settling in with the national soccer body and spend some time with the squad.

“PNG is very excited about her appointment and we cannot wait for her to join the football family in the country,” Chung said.

Cole was a former coach of the Boston Breakers in the Women’s Professional Soccer competition and her previous position was as technical director of the Soccer Centre Association in Pennsylvania.

As technical director, Cole oversaw and established programmes focused on player and coaching development. 

Chung said Cole brings over a decade of coaching experience to the association from all levels; professional, collegiate, youth and  running camps and clinics. 

Cole was the president and assistant coach of Soccer-Plus Connecticut Reds.  Chung said Cole’s collegiate coaching experience included a year at Florida State as an assistant coach; she served as coach of the University of Rhode Island; assistant coach at the University of Connecticut and assistant coach at the University of Mississippi.

Cole holds a USSF “A” license and NSCAA Premier Diploma and is an NSCAA national staff coach and member of the Region I Olympic Development Programme.