Former Banyana coach Pauw up for Fifa award
- Published
Dutch coach Vera Pauw with South Africa at the 2016 Rio Olympics
Former South Africa coach Vera Pauw has been shortlisted for the Best Fifa Women's Coach 2016.
The Dutch coach is among 10 candidates for the award, announced by the game's world governing body on Tuesday.
"I'm so proud! I dedicate this nomination to the players and staff of Banyana Banyana!" the 53-year-old Pauw wrote on Twitter., external
"Indeed the nomination is amazing for recognition of Banyana Banyana in the world of women's football!"
Pauw was in charge of Banyana Banyana for two years and qualified the team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
But she left after the team's first-round elimination, having failed to win a single match in their group.
Pauw is unlikely to win the award, though, given that Silvia Neid, who retired after leading Germany to a first Olympic title in Rio, is also shortlisted.
Neid has a chance of winning a hat-trick of Fifa awards after being named the top coach in 2010 and 2013.
Germany won the women's Olympic football gold medal for the first time with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the final in Rio.
Fifa says the shortlist will be whittled down to just three finalists on 2 December.
The winner will be decided by head coaches and captains of national teams around the world.
Their vote makes up 50% of the result and the other 50% will come from fans around the globe via an online poll.
The rebranded Best Fifa Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Zurich on 9 January.
The full list of nominees for Best Fifa's Women's Coach 2016:
Philippe Bergeroo (France/French national team)
Jill Ellis (USA/US national team)
John Herdman (England/Canadian national team)
Silvia Neid (Germany/German national team)
Vera Pauw (Netherlands/South African national team)
Gérard Prêcheur (France/Olympique Lyonnais)
Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Swedish national team)
Oswaldo Vadão (Brazil/Brazilian national team)
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/Swiss national team)
Thomas Wörle (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)