New Lionesses coach Karim Bencherifa wants to see fighting spirit in Singapore women’s team
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National women's head coach Karim Bencherifa taking charge of a training session at the Kallang Football Hub ahead of the Women's Olympic Football Qualifiers in Chonburi.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE – Karim Bencherifa loves a good test. In the early 2000s, he inherited the ailing Tanjong Pagar and Woodlands Wellington squads and turned their fortunes around, guiding the latter to third in the league and the Singapore Cup final.
The Moroccan, who also had a stint with Warriors FC, is back and is relishing his new assignment as the Lionesses’ coach.
“I’m used to those challenges to pick up teams who maybe are not yet there,” said Bencherifa, 55, who began his new role on March 1.
“With the girls, I see it in their eyes, in the way they train. They really want to do something (big) as well.”
His first assignment is the Olympic Asian qualifiers in Chonburi, where world No. 134 Singapore will face Group D hosts Thailand (No. 44) on Saturday and Mongolia (128) on Tuesday.
The tournament is the first round of qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the winners of each group advancing to the second round.
Bencherifa acknowledged the path is hard – Thailand are, after all, five-time SEA Games champions and have featured in two World Cups. But he insisted that the aim is not just for exposure ahead of the May 5-17 SEA Games in Cambodia.
“We are going to fight, I will not tell you that we are going there just to prepare. It’s not easy because Thailand have already proven that they are one of the strongest teams,” said Bencherifa, who bagged the Coach of the Year award after guiding Indian side Salgaocar SC to a league and cup double in 2011.
“These difficulties will only encourage us to take on the challenge... We are looking to do the best possible at the Olympic (qualifiers) and having an eye on the SEA Games as well.”
The Lionesses finished third in their group at the Hanoi SEA Games in 2022
Having overseen just two sessions with the full squad present, Bencherifa has largely kept the core that competed at the Hanoi Games, Asean Football Federation championship and Asian Football Confederation Under-20 Asian Cup qualifiers.
National footballer Khairunnisa Khairol Anwar (with white head band) passing the ball during training at the Kallang Football Hub.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
He noted that it is too early to assess the team and there is room for improvement for the young squad, but is also aiming to help the Lionesses be more competitive in South-east Asia.
In terms of world rankings, the Lionesses are ninth among the 11 teams in the region. Only world No. 153 Timor Leste and unranked Brunei sit below them.
He said: “There is Vietnam, Thailand up there. But I’m sure from what I see and I know with good work, good support, we can climb some steps.
“I don’t think Singapore deserves to be ninth among SEA countries. We can do better than many countries and that’s our aim – to slowly start climbing steps.
“The SEA Games are coming, which will give me more time to prepare the team and hopefully we do well, we improve our ranking, so this is how I see it.
“After that, if we achieve that, we can start dreaming of bigger things at the Asian level.”
