Ann from The Women’s Game and I had a chat to Tom Sermanni after the Canberra v Sydney game on the weekend. We asked him about his insights from the AFC Women’s Football Conference earlier this month and what Australia needs to do to continue to progress and build upon our recent success.

We also talk about the application from the Illawarra Stingrays to join the W-League and what that means for the league in general.

Some further related reading:

• Japan passes on future Club World Cups to focus on women’s football
• Matildas coach backs W-League bid

Great interview by @bostonbreakers coach @lcole22! Q&A with Australia’s Tom Sermanni nscaa.com/a823 via @NSCAA @NSCAAwomen

— Amanda Vandervort (@vandey01) December 14, 2011

Tom Sermanni

Australia womens coach Tom Sermanni has been nominated for FIFA’s womens coach of the year award.

Sermanni took up the job as Matildas coach in 2004 and has had a celebrated career with the national side including two quarter final appearances at the previous two World Cups as well as winning the Asian Cup in 2010.

In the nominations for the women’s World Player of the Year award United States goalkeeper Hope Solo and forward Abby Wambach have been nominated for the, competing with five-time winner Marta of Brazil for the prize.

Japan, the 2011 Women’s World Cup winner, has Homare Sawa, the player of the tournament and top scorer in Germany, and Aya Miyama on a 10-woman shortlist.

Read more at The World Game.