
Nepal women's team coach Patrick De Wilde resigns after differences with federation
The 61-year-old was appointed by the ANFA in June. His first major assignment with the side was the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, in which Nepal lost out to Uzbekistan on penalties in a decisive fixture. In the other qualifiers, his side had beaten Laos and Sri Lanka comfortably, scoring a combined 17 goals against the two teams without conceding.
Soon after the qualifiers, De Wilde came out to the media to vent his frustrations around how the federation operated and meddled in his work.
Sportstar understands that the Belgium Pro Licence-holding coach will not continue his collaboration with ANFA over differences in their vision regarding the future development of women's football in the country.
ANFA had announced that De Wilde's tenure would last one year.
This was the Belgian's first stint of coaching a women's team. In his career of more than 20 years, he's coached clubs across Ukraine, China, Austria, and Tunisia and also coached national teams like Algeria, Hungary, and Lithuania.
Most recently, he assisted China's Under-23 team and was appointed as Nepal Super League outfit Kathmandu Rayzrs FC head coach, technical director, and international scout.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
17 hours ago
- News18
Jack Grealish On Verge Of Leaving Manchester City After Chat With Pep Guardiola
The struggling midfielder had a disappointing last season and could be left out of coach Pep Guardiola's plans for the upcoming Premier League campaign. England international Jack Grealish's Manchester City career could be over soon after a chat with head coach Pep Guardiola, who encouraged the struggling player to look elsewhere at the end of the last season. Battling recurring injury problems and being forced to warm the bench for most of the Premier League season, Grealish cut a sorry figure. Grealish's City stint has been in limbo ever since Guardiola left him out of his squad on the final day of the Premier League season at Fulham, later indicating that the attacking midfielder could leave the Etihad as he requires consistent game time. He was then also dropped from Guardiola's plans for the FIFA Club World Cup and is unlikely to remain with the club when the Premier League returns in August. Speculations over Grealish's City days being over had only spiked after City signed attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki in June, increasing competition for spots in their forward positions. With Guardiola eyeing an improved set of performances to rejuvenate the club's fortunes, a door could well be shown in the coming days to the experienced winger. Manchester City had already decided not to renew Kevin De Bruyne's contract. The Belgian is now with Serie A champions, Napoli, who have been empowering their squad with Premier League signings. They also signed Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour last season, with both players playing key roles in their title victory. According to a report by the Gazzetta dello Sport, Napoli also contacted Grealish's camp ahead of a possible approach. While Grealish's high-end salary could pose a hurdle to the Napoli move, the club is reportedly open to a loan deal, provided City cover some of his wages. Another potential transfer target is Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa after his slow season on Merseyside. Citing a minor injury issue, Liverpool left Chiesa from their pre-season tour. But this is being treated as a sign of dipping stocks with coach Arne Slot, who may leave the player out from his plans for the coming season, prompting Chiesa's return to native Italy. Chiesa has expressed his desire to win his place in Italy's national team back ahead of the 2026 World Cup. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
a day ago
- News18
'There's A Chance I Won't Drive At All...': Max Verstappen Addresses Horner's Exit, Mercedes Rumours
Max Verstappen said Christian Horner's departure won't affect his future with Red Bull. He remains committed through 2028 and is excited about Laurent Mekies' leadership. Max Verstappen has made it clear that Christian Horner's sudden departure as Red Bull team principal will not influence his own future with the team. The four-time world champion, who has been the subject of transfer speculation linking him to Mercedes for the 2026 season, indicated on Thursday that he remains committed to seeing out his current contract with Red Bull, which runs through 2028. Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix—a circuit close to his heart due to his Belgian birthplace and maternal roots—the 27-year-old Dutchman emphasized that his focus remains solely on car performance, not management changes. Horner's Departure Has 'No Impact" When asked if Horner's exit after two decades at the helm made it more likely that he would stay with Red Bull, Verstappen gave a firm and simple response: 'No, it doesn't. Not really." He also downplayed the reported tensions between his father, Jos Verstappen, and Horner, saying personal disputes had no role in shaping his professional decisions. 'People can have a difference of opinion, and I expect that to happen. If everyone agrees, there is a problem. 'You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction, and I am excited about it. I don't think it will matter at all for the decision over my future." Backing Mekies for New Chapter Verstappen expressed enthusiasm for the team's new leadership under Laurent Mekies, who has been promoted from Red Bull's sister team, Racing Bulls, to replace Horner. 'I had already had quite a few meetings with Laurent as well, you know. The last two weeks have been quite intense. 'I'm equally excited for the team now moving forward because that's what we have to do." Mekies' technical background is expected to sharpen Red Bull's engineering direction as they look to reclaim dominance in a fiercely competitive field. On His Future: 'Life Is Unpredictable" When asked whether he had a decision to make regarding his future, Verstappen responded with philosophical ambiguity. 'There is also the possibility of not waking up tomorrow, and so there is no driving. 'Life is unpredictable and, in general, I am happy with where I am at… 'The target was that when I signed my deal, I would drive here until the end of my career." Despite the swirling rumors and shifting leadership, Verstappen appeared calm and focused, preferring to channel his energy into performance on the track. (with agency inputs) view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 23:32 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Christian Horner's Exit Has No Impact On My Future Plans: Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen insisted on Thursday that Christian Horner's shock departure as team boss of Red Bull will have no impact on his future plans. The four-time world champion, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes next year, suggested that he expects to stay with Red Bull until the conclusion of his current contract in 2028. Speaking to reporters in the paddock ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, one of his 'home' races as he was born in Belgium and his mother is Belgian, the 27-year-old Dutchman said he was concerned only with improving the speed and performance of his car. The rest, he said, was not of great interest to him, adding that past tensions between Horner and his father Jos Verstappen had no bearing on decisions about his future. Asked if Horner's exit after 20 years as team boss made it more probable that he would stay at Red Bull next year, Verstappen said: "No, it doesn't. Not really." He said the well-publicised discord between his father and Horner was never a problem. "People can have a difference of opinion and I expect that to happen because if everyone agrees, there is a problem. "You need to have differences in opinion. Now, we will work in a different direction and I am excited about it and I don't think it will matter at all for the decision over my future. "The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can and try and be more competitive this year, a little bit, but for sure with the new regulations next year." Verstappen had earlier welcomed the appointment of Frenchman Laurent Mekies, promoted from junior team Racing Bulls, as Horner's successor and clearly sensed that it could usher in a stronger technical and engineering focus at the team. He gave an oblique response when asked if he had a decision to make about his future. "There is also the possibility of not waking up tomorrow and so there is no driving. "Life is unpredictable and, in general, I am happy with where I am at… "The target was that when I signed my deal, I would drive here until the end of my career." Verstappen will be hoping to end the speculation and give both the team and new boss Mekies a boost with a convincing performance this weekend on his favourite circuit. The Dutchman finds himself in the unaccustomed position of third in the drivers' standings, behind leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both of McLaren.