With the 2008 Olympic Games is just 10 months away,
China is seeking?a new foreign coach to lead its women's
national soccer team after the Swede Marika Domanski quit her post
for "health, family and social reasons".
"After the World Cup, the Chinese Football Association (CFA)
showed Marika a sincere wish to extend her contract," team media
officer Meng Hongtao told a press conference in Beijing on
Tuesday.
"We discussed?Olympic preparation plans as well as team
development several times, and she submitted her report on the
World Cup performance, Olympic preparation plans and gave many
constructive suggestions.
"But recently Marika and her assistants sent us a
letter?requesting?termination of their contracts
citing?health, family and social reasons. We feel deeply sorry
about?this decision, but we accept and understand it fully. We
thank?Marika and her assistants for the contributions they
have brought to the team, and wish them good luck in the future,"
he added.
Domanski led the "Steel Roses" to the quarterfinals at the FIFA
Women's World Cup last month before being knocked out by Norway
1-0. Although she didn't achieve her goal of reaching the last
four, she created some?big changes in morale, player
confidence and instituted some technical improvements that really
impressed the CFA officials and Chinese fans.
Meng told reporters that the CFA is planning to recruit a
"suitable" foreign coach to take over.
"We have some basic standards, e.g. the new coach must have
experiences with top teams, and his or her coaching style and
approach should be in accordance with the team's general
character."
Local reports revealed that former French coach Elizabeth
Loisel, Brazilian boss Jorge Barcellos are both possible choices
for the CFA. The nation's soccer governing body is likely to
request the new coach to help win a medal at next year's Olympic
Games.
Domanski felt ill during the World Cup, and she once admitted
that loneliness in China was really a "big problem" for her.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)