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17 May 2023
Raiza Gutiérrez, the flag bearer of Panamanian football
Raiza Gutiérrez is the head coach of the Panama U20 women's team. The former player of the national team has big aims with her team and wants to take advantage of the Sud Ladies Cup 2023, which will take place from 16 to 21 May 2023 at the Parc des Sports in Avignon (Vaucluse), to prepare for future events such as the U20 World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF zone.
Who is Raiza Gutiérrez?
Raiza Gutiérrez is the head coach of the Panamanian U20 women's national team that will participate in the Sud Ladies Cup, from 16 to 21 May 2023 in Avignon. Raiza Gutiérrez is a former player of Panama. She was one of the references of local women's football, winning national titles and also wearing the national team shirt. The former Panamanian national team player cut her teeth in the local league with clubs such as FC Chorrillo and CD Universitario, winning the LFF (Panama Women's League), but also coaching the men's youth categories.
"I am very happy because I have always wanted to collaborate with women's football in Panama, to be able to offer my knowledge to the players who are growing up and to put the country's name on top", said Raiza Gutiérrez, on her appointment as coach of the Panama U20 women's team on February 3 2021.
The expert's eye
Samuel McCollin, a journalist from local media outlet Bitacora Deportiva, was in Avignon to follow Panama's team at the 2023 South Ladies Cup.
"Raiza Gutiérrez is one of the most emblematic women in Panamanian women's football. Her ideas have always focused on the need for her players to show character when they play and to be brave on the pitch.
She knows the context of the Panamanian national team inside out, because she played there and knows how difficult it is to promote female talent in the country. As a coach, she is still learning, and the Panamanian fans are waiting to see more of her as a technician."
In addition to her role as Panama U20 coach, Raiza Gutiérrez also holds the position of assistant coach of the women's senior team alongside Ignacio Quintana.
"One of her goals is to prepare the girls for the CONCACAF U-20 World Cup tournament", said Samuel McCollin.
It is very likely that the players participating in the 2023 Sud Ladies Cup will also be part of the team that will be competing in that competition. Tactically, "the team plays like the senior national team, with a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 system", says McCollin. He adds that "the squad will prioritise their defensive play, as the level of opponents will be similar to that of the group in the World Cup qualifying tournament."
