Takashi to coach women's team

New boss: Norimatsu Takashi (right) poses with his jersey after being named head coach of the Viet Nam women's football team. Takashi will work in Viet Nam for two years to improve the quality of women's football as well as train young players. - VNS Photo Quoc Khanh

The two-year contract with the Japanese coach was one of activities listed on the football strategy co-operation carried out between the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) and the Japan Football Association (JFA).

Takashi's presence in Viet Nam is also a step towards boosting the quality of the women's team, which figures on VFF's agenda for the 2014 to 2018 period.

"The women's team has displayed remarkable achievement recently and received strong support from local fans and state leaders. To start a new chapter in its development, the VFF has invited Norimatsu Takashi to help us," said VFF Chairman Le Hung Dung.

"His main duty will be to strengthen the team, advise and support the VFF to organise a better national tournament, as well as train younger players," Dung pointed out.

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

"I have watched some matches of the team and was impressed with what they did. I also heard that Viet Nam has a team with great potential and I want to convert it to having real power. I want to build up a strong, motivated and vivid squad. I want them to be among Asia's leading teams," said Takashi through an interpreter.

Takashi will start his job today in HCM City, where he will watch the national seven-team championship's first leg at the Thong Nhat Stadium.

At the press briefing, many journalists expressed concern for Takashi's background, considering he has not led a national team or a women's squad before.

"Although, this is the first time I have taken charge as a manager of a women's football team, I will try hard to make it perfect," Takashi said, responding to the concerns.

"This is also the reason that has pushed me to apply for the job. It is a challenge and also a chance for me to show my capacity," he said.

Asked as to what he knows about Viet Nam and when he will take charge of his new position, Takashi said: "Even if I spend a lot of time studying a team, but do not work with them on the field, it will be difficult for me to state anything. Like Dung said, we need to focus not only on getting good results, we also need to work first."

JFA's Vice President Kohzo Tashima was also present at the ceremony and promised to strongly support Takashi.

He said the key to helping Japan women's team succeed at the Germany World Cup 2011 was using the same training method as the men's team. Thus, JFA and VFF will support Takashi in every decision he takes.

Tashima also emphasised that Takashi has collected prestigious certificates for training that have been issued by JFA and the Football Association of England. The coach, who can speak Portuguese, English and German, said his knowledge about women's football training method is self-taught.

Takashi will have several months to implement his plan before he leads the national team at the ASEAN Women's Football Championships in May and then at the Olympics' qualifier in September.

"I will have to check players' skills (during the national championship) first and then work out a detailed playing style and tactics. However, the global trend is a combination of attacking and defending," said Takashi, who played as a striker during his sporting days between 1984 and 1998.

After retirement, Takashi started working as a coach for youth squads at the Gamba Osaka, Vissel Kobe, Tokushima Vortis and Tucano.

He is currently the director of the Ryukyu Academy in Japan.