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Guatemalan coach leads Samoa to second Women's U-17 World Cup
🇬🇹 Guatemala /Sports

Guatemalan coach leads Samoa to second Women's U-17 World Cup

From Prensa Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Guatemalan coach Juan José Chang will lead Samoa in his second consecutive FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
  • Chang is the only Guatemalan coach to have managed in a World Cup and has guided Samoa to back-to-back qualifications.
  • The team, which retains most of its previous squad, faces tough opponents like the USA and China in the upcoming tournament.

Juan José Chang, a Guatemalan coach, is making history by leading the Samoan national team to its second consecutive FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. His journey from local fields in Guatemala to the international stage exemplifies dedication and perseverance. Chang holds the distinction of being the only Guatemalan coach to have managed in a World Cup, a feat he achieved last year and is now repeating with Samoa.

It has been a very special story. I always dreamed of being in a World Cup, although I never imagined doing it as a coach.

— Juan José ChangReflecting on his journey to coaching in the World Cup.

Chang's success with Samoa is built on a project focused on development and consistency. When he began, Samoa was ranked last in Oceania. Through diligent scouting in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, he transformed the team into a competitive force, leading them undefeated to the finals of the qualifying tournament.

For the upcoming World Cup, Samoa retains a strong core of players from their previous appearance, with only six of the 22 squad members not returning. This continuity, combined with the experience gained from their last World Cup, allows the team to set more ambitious goals. They are preparing for challenging matches against powerhouses like the United States and China, as well as an as-yet-unknown African representative.

The main advantage is that we maintain the base of the team. We only lost six of the 22 players who were in the previous World Cup.

— Juan José ChangDiscussing the continuity of the Samoan squad for the upcoming tournament.

Beyond the results, Chang emphasizes the invaluable experience the tournament provides for the young athletes. He believes competing on the world stage fosters significant growth in confidence and maturity, aiming for this generation to form the foundation of a future senior national team. Personally, Chang has experienced rapid professional and personal development, learning from and sharing experiences with coaches globally.

It is an invaluable experience. The confidence and maturity that the footballers gain in these types of tournaments are impressive.

— Juan José ChangDescribing the impact of the World Cup on player development.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Prensa Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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