Margaret Aka

Female coach sets bar in soccer

Margaret Aka, from West New Britain Province, is setting the bar for women and girls who are passionate about soccer.

The former international is the first woman in PNG to receive an OFC B Licence. She is also the first woman to coach a soccer team in the 2018 National Soccer League.

So what drove this dynamic but humble woman to greater heights?

“What drives me the most is helping kids to realise their full potential not only in football but life in general,” Aka told Loop PNG.

Former PNG footballer makes history

The former PNG women’s soccer international said the path to this achievement has been long and hard but she is thankful to the PNG Football Association for the opportunity.

When her playing career came to a close after almost 20 years, Aka knew she had more to offer.

As a volunteer, Aka was soon given an opportunity to attend a grassroots coaching course then went on to lead the OFC Just Play Programme in PNG and in 2014, was in charge of the national U-15 girls team at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.