Elisabeth Loisel claimed to lift the Chinese women's football
national team to the world top six on Sunday when she was unveiled
as the seventh head coach of the Chinese side over four years.
The Chinese local media was taken aback when the 44-year-old
former France trainer appeared in the corridors of the Chinese
Football Association clad in Chinese team tracksuit and at the
ready to attend a press conference, where she would address the
startled reporters as the new head coach of the Steel Rose.
It seemed that in only five days, from Loisel's predecessor
Marika Domanski-Lyfors' quit to the Frenchwoman's installation, the
CFA had finished their selection process of the candidates and
sealed the deal with Loisel with efficiency.
"Elisabeth signed the contract with CFA at noon today to
officially take charge of the Chinese women's team," said the team
press official Meng Hongtao.
The former France head coach escaped the prying eyes of the
local media and sneaked into Beijing on Saturday before completing
her negotiation with the CFA, Meng said.
The bespectacled Loisel looked in good spirit when she mapped
out her ambition with her new side.
"China have made considerable progress under the guidance of
Marika, and in the days to come, I will work flat out to help them
achieve more," she said.
"Judged from their performance, China should be ranked among the
world top ten, and our future objective is to reach the top
six.
"I have every confidence with the team, they are young and have
great potentials. Some of them are still wanting in individual
skills, and other problems will be easily sorted out.
"Compared with the World Cup semi-finalists, namely Germany,
Brazil, the United States and Norway, the Chinese players lack
physical power... And we'll work hard on improving their stamina
and personal power," she said.
She also touched on the next year's Olympic Games which is a thorny issue for her,
as she is expected to take the team to a medal podium place.
"Everybody knows that there are three colors of medals on offer
in every competition in the Olympics, we will try our best to get
one," she said.
She also warned that the axe will fall on some players during
the following training camps.
"I will constantly choose the players, those with more potential
will come up," she said.
Loisel will set up the first training camp in on Wednesday where
35 players are expected to attend, team press official Meng
said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2007)