Patrick De Wilde, the new head coach of the Nepal national women’s football team, has officially taken on the role and is ready to face the challenge ahead. Speaking at a “Meet and Greet” event on Friday, De Wilde shared that he came to Nepal after accepting the challenge of leading the team through an important phase.
ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah confirmed that De Wilde has signed a one-year contract that started from Thursday. The Nepal Football Association appointed him with the Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers in mind. De Wilde acknowledged that the tournament would be a tough one and emphasized that the challenge is significant. With only three weeks left for preparation, he stated that training and planning would begin from the next day.
Patrick De Wilde also expressed that taking on the national team coaching job has added a new level of responsibility to his career. According to Hari Khadka, the coordinator of the coach selection committee, De Wilde was chosen based on his experience, qualifications, and his previous involvement in the Nepal Super League. Khadka added that technical discussions were held, and financial factors were also considered while making the final decision.
Out of 21 applicants, De Wilde made it to the top through a competitive selection process. The committee shortlisted the candidates from 21 to 10, then to 5, and finally 2, before conducting virtual interviews to make the final pick.
Looking ahead, Coach De Wilde mentioned that defeating Laos and Sri Lanka will be crucial before facing a bigger challenge against Uzbekistan in the qualifiers. He believes those early wins will be essential in setting the tone for Nepal’s campaign in the Women’s Asian Cup.
