Youngest football manager takes charge of ‘world’s worst team’

Author: admin

15 Aug

Paul Watson, 25, is the coach of the tiny Pacific island of Pohnpei, which boasts a population of 34,000 – less than half the capacity of Wembley Stadium.

Their national football team has never won a game and the closest they have come to victory was losing 5-4 on penalties to rival island Yap.

However, despite a recent 16-1 thrashing at the hands of Guam, sports writer Paul and his student friend Matthew Conrad, also 25, believe they can turn things around.

The pair, who are from London, will begin training the Pohnpei team for no pay starting September 17 and friendly games are scheduled to take place in early 2010.

Paul, a freelance sports journalist who grew up in Bristol, revealed that one of his players has to walk over six miles to reach the training ground – and does not even own a pair of shoes.

He said: “By chance we heard the country didn’t have a coach at the moment and were looking for someone to take over. Like idiots we said we would consider it.

“Their players have a lot of raw talent but they have never won a game, they lost on penalties once so I guess that almost counts as a win.

“Unfortunately they are the worst team in the world but I don’t think they will be for much longer. With training they’ll improve dramatically.

“They are really enthusiastic and one of the players who walks one hour and a half just to get to training without wearing any shoes.

“That’s why we are so keen to help them out and why we are appealing for sponsors to donate shoes and kit.” Next >>