South African Shilene Booysen has been appointed head coach for Sudan senior women’s national football team.
South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) website has confirmed that the association has hired the coach on a two-year contract.
Shilene previously worked as an Assistant Coach of Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League in America.
Most recently, she was working as an Assistant Coach for the South African’s Banyana Banyana.
Shilene told SSFA website that he was ready for the challenge of coaching in Africa’s newest nation.
“When I saw what South Sudan was doing in terms of women’s football and the strategy that the SSFA has put in place, and what they have done since putting it in place, everything that they have done made me excited and since then I have always wanted to be a part of something like this. This is exactly where I want to be, this is exactly what I want to do, and I want to be a part of something bigger and for me South Sudan football and the Federation plans represents something bigger,” she said.
South Sudan FA President, Francis Amin, has since welcomed Shinele.
“We are delighted to announce Shilene as the next Head Coach of the South Sudan Senior Women’s Football Team. Our vision is to be number one and having a full-time Head Coach is part of our strategic plan. We want to give women on the senior women’s national team full time training that is monitored, and we want to see the team competing at a high level soon.”
SSFA Women’s Football Consultant, Jean Sseninde added, “Shilene has plenty of international experience having worked in the National Women’s Soccer League as an Assistant Coach to Vera Pauw with the Houston Dash and also with the South Africa Senior women’s national team as a Tactical Assistant Coach to Desiree Ellis. She has worked in high pressure games in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and we fully believe her experiences, authenticity, commitment and understanding of our vision as SSFA will help us build a team that will challenge for regional and continental titles in the near future.”