National team coach hopes to stir up football passion in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/08/20
By: William Yen

Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) The head coach of Taiwan's national football team told of his plans Tuesday

to stir up passion for football amongst Taiwanese by making the game more exciting through an aggressive style of play he has developed for the team.

Louis Lancaster told CNA that "if you look at Taiwan, we're meant to be the nicest people in the world, we're so friendly, we will help anyone. But actually, now that's changed because when we get on the pitch, we're animals!"

The style of play he has developed for the team is based on the philosophy of "attack, attack and attack," by keeping the ball as close to the opposition's goal as possible and as far away from their own goal, said Lancaster, who took over as the country's head coach Jan. 16, after his tenure as assistant to former head coach Gary White that ran Sept. 14, 2017 to Sept. 8, 2018.

"To do that, players cannot turn down forward passing opportunities, we have to have forward passing options," he said. "In our possession, we have to be fast-paced and aggressive, and we have to suffocate the other team in their half of the field."    [FULL  STORY]