Historic Debut for the Marshall Islands: National Football Team Coaching Staff Announced
The Marshall Islands are preparing to fill one of the last blank pages in international football history. For the first time ever, the country will field a national team in official matches, competing in the Outrigger Challenge Cup tournament, which will take place in Arkansas, USA, from August 13 to 16. The team will face the national sides of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Leading the technical direction is Englishman Lloyd Owers, the Federation’s Technical Director, who has assembled a staff with international experience and clear vision.
Owers, a UEFA A license holder with a master's degree in coaching performance, has long been tasked with building the Marshall Islands’ football structure from the ground up. With previous experience in England, the USA, Canada, Sweden, and the Marshalls, he has established the first development programs for youth and adults, men’s and women’s teams, as well as a coach education framework. Supporting him are three assistants: the experienced Justin Walley, with coaching stints in CONIFA, Latvia, and Africa; Dean Johnson, an award-winning U.S. coach with experience in NCAA and USL; and former professional goalkeeper Matt Perrella, who has coached in both NCAA and USL2.
The staff is further strengthened by specialists in other areas. Tony Theomae, a futsal coach and long-time resident of the Marshall Islands, leads training sessions in Majuro. Jack Hutchinson joined the project through the Kickstarter platform and contributes to logistics and organization. His digital initiative, “Football Legionnaires,” may also help identify players of Marshallese heritage abroad. Meanwhile, the Federation has secured an analytics team comprising Mike Wheeler, Ross Mitchell, and Ronan Manning, who will focus on match analysis, data, and tactical insights.
The debut of the Marshall Islands national team is not just a landmark moment for football in the country, but also a symbolic step onto the global sporting stage. The upcoming squad announcement is eagerly anticipated, with the Federation showing willingness to harness both local talent and potential reinforcements from the diaspora. Backed by sponsors such as SortitOutSI and driven by a commitment to a sustainable development model, the journey of the world’s newest national team has only just begun.