FFA selectors told to make call on Matildas
FORMER Matildas star Kate McShea wants Ante Milicic’s future as Australia’s coach decided now to avoid another disrupted build-up to a major tournament for the team.
Milicic was set to take the Matildas to Tokyo this year before becoming the inaugural coach of A-League expansion club Macarthur FC for the 2020-21 season.
The decision to delay the Olympics by 12 months has thrown Milicic’s future at the helm of the national team into doubt. It’s unclear whether Milicic will now stay on as Matildas coach for the rescheduled Olympics as well as fulfil his duties with Macarthur or if the FFA will appoint a new coach.
McShea, who earned 73 caps for the Matildas from 2000 to 2009, believes a call has to be made to avoid similar disruption to Australia’s preparations as those brought on by Alen Stajcic’s controversial axing last year.
Stajcic was sacked just months before last year’s Women’s World Cup in France and 2000 Olympian McShea is convinced that disruption hurt the Matildas’ campaign.
“We don’t want another debacle like before the World Cup. It’s sooner rather than later [that] a call needs to be made,” McShea said.
“He’s got his contract to Macarthur ... preparation-wise is he going to be able to commit to all of the camps? You can’t really see a full-time ALeague coach being able to be a full-time Matildas coach at the same time, and them get the preparation they need.”
McShea also tips senior Matildas to push on for at least another year in order to play at the rescheduled Olympics.
“It’s not like they’re bench players, they’re generally in the starting XI for Matildas,” said McShea, who played as a 17-year-old for Australia at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
“It’s really the unknown for everybody at the moment so everyone’s sort of adapting, but I think those sorts of players, an Olympics is something you keep going for.”
McShea is also hopeful the suspension of football will refresh several key Matildas such as Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Chloe Logarzo after a hectic 18-month schedule.