Elizabeth Loisel, the newly-installed head coach of the Chinese women's football national team, is confident that she could transform the underdog at hand into an Olympic medal-winning team in nine months.

 

The 44-year old former France trainer, dubbed as "Queen Elizabeth" by the Chinese media, set up the first team's training camp at her disposal in Xiaogan, a bustling small city about 50 kilometers to the north of Wuhan, becomes more upbeat after spending a week with the team.

 

"I have perceived something very precious in the girls, that's the passion for football," she said through an interpreter.

 

"They love football very much, and because of this, they will go all out in training and playing. This attitude will make them a hopeful to win a medal in the next year's Olympic Games," she said.

 

Loisel tried to assure her players, who were left in deep self-doubt after losing out in the World Cup quaterfinals to Norway, that they will be equipped to pull off the feat.

 

"The girls are more committed than I expected, they have the fabulous basics to make something. I have designed a meticulous plan for them.

 

"I am sure if we could execute the plan well, the nine months leading up to the Olympics is enough for them to prepare themselves. Time is not a problem," she said.

 

Her magics lie within the plan which consists of two phases.

 

"In the first period I will familiarize myself with the girls and find the players to make the team, and during the second they will play some strong teams in the warm-ups. Then my team to play the Olympics will take shape," she said.

 

The Chinese team is now working out in the decrepit Xiaogan stadium and a feeling of conviviality can be sensed.

 

"Elizabeth excels in dealing with others, she can make sure everybody is at ease within the set-up," said her Chinese assistant coach Wang Haiming.

 

"She is very cooperative and always ready to seek our Chinese trainers' advice. I think she has the mentality and is on the right track to guide the team," he said.

 

Loisel is gaining wide acceptance after launching some charm offensives, the main one being to talk to the players one by one behind the doors.

 

"She aske me if I have confidence in her, what is my aim, what position I prefer, just some simple questions," said veteran defender Liu Yali.

 

"The feeling of talking with her was very amazing, just like being hypnotized.

 

"I told her that I have been the Asian champion, and I yearn for the world title, that is the reason I still stay with the team. I know she is an admirer of attacking football, like her predecessor Marika Domanski-Lyfors.

 

"She is a charming and jovial character and I have confidence in her," she said.

 

But Loisel also has her detractors among whom is the former Chinese head coach Ma Liangxing.

 

"When Elizabeth coached the French team, they made convincing progress, but the mastermind behind that is Aime Jacquet, the coach of the 1998 men's World Cup winning team. Indeed Elizabeth attributed little to their achievement," he said.

 

"I don't think she can do something with the Chinese team whose resources are very limited. No matter who coaches this team, it would be very hard to succeed in the major international tournaments," he added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2007)