National women’s football team head coach Lisa Cole has one aim for the new year and that is securing a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Cole takes charge of the Digicel national women’s football team for the crucial Oceania Football Confederations 2022 Women’s Nations Cup in June-July, possibly at the ANZ Stadium in Suva barring any new COVID-19 challenges.
“My ambition is to take the national women’s football team to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup,” she said.
“That’s my number one priority.
“We got to start talking about it from day one and create the mindset among the players on the reason we’re playing in an important competition later in the year.
“What I see is playing in the OFC qualifiers and earning the right to compete in a play-off before qualifying for the World Cup.
“That’s the dream for me personally.
“Obviously we will have to try and win every match on the football pitch.
“Every goal and result will be so important.
“We will try our level best to make our dreams a reality.
“I hope it’s an amazing journey and I want us to feel that at the end of the day we did everything in our powers to try to make that happen.”
The 48-year-old will be the maiden female head coach of the Bula Girls.
She jetted into the country last Wednesday morning from Los Angeles after receiving her work permit from the Fijian Immigration Department and is excited about her new role.
Cole replaces former women’s national football coach Marika Rodu, who had to relinquish his position when he was terminated last August after failing to comply with the mandatory vaccination exercise citing personal beliefs.
She was the coach of the Antigua and Barbuda women’s national football team and also headed the women’s development program at the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association prior to her appointment with Fiji FA and brings tons of experience with her in the sport.
Cole officially started work yesterday.
