Culture - Sports

Takashi named coach of Vietnam women’s team

Norimatsu Takashi has officially become the head coach of the Vietnam national women’s football team after a signing ceremony was held in Hanoi on March 4.
Norimatsu Takashi has officially become the head coach of the Vietnamnational women’s football team after a signing ceremony was held inHanoi on March 4.

The two-year contract with theJapanese coach was one of activities listed on the football strategycooperation carried out between the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)and the Japan Football Association (JFA).

Takashi’s presence in Vietnam is also a step towards boosting thequality of the women’s team, which figures on the VFF’s agenda for the2014-18 period.

“The women’s team has displayedremarkable achievement recently and received strong support from localfans and state leaders. To start a new chapter in its development, theVFF has invited Norimatsu Takashi to help us,” said VFF Chairman Le HungDung.

“His main duty will be to strengthen theteam, advise and support the VFF to organise a better nationaltournament, as well as train younger players,” Dung pointed out.

Takashi, 46, did not make any promises, but said he will demonstrate his abilities through what he does in the future.

He said he wants to build up a strong, motivated and vivid squad and the women’s team will be among Asia’s leading teams.

Takashiwill start his job on March 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, where he will watchthe national seven-team championship’s first leg at the Thong Nhatstadium.

He will have several months to implement his plan beforehe leads the national team at the ASEAN Women’s Football Championshipsin May and then at the Olympic qualifier in September.

Thisis the first time Takashi, who played as a striker during his sportingdays between 1984 and 1998, has taken charge as a manager of a women’sfootball team.

After retirement, Takashi started working as acoach for youth squads at the Gamba Osaka, Vissel Kobe, Tokushima Vortisand Tucano.

He is currently Director of the Ryukyu Academy of Japan.-VNA
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