Clubs Constitute Stumbling Block to Falconets’ Preparations

The Under-20 Women National Team, Falconets’ preparation for the 2016 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea is being threatened, following the incessant demand from clubs in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) for their players for League matches.

Head Coach Peter Dedevbo and his technical crew are facing hurdles in tinkering the team into shape for the tournament billed for next month as clubs have continued to disrupt their World Cup training schedule.

Dedevbo on Tuesday agonised that within the two weeks since his camp commenced, he has released players on several occasions for club engagements. He lamented that while he was still contending with the late arrival of overseas –based players, Clubs like Bayelsa Queens, Sunshine Queens and Nasarawa Amazons, whose players make up the bulk of the invited home –based girls in the camp, want all their players returned for midweek and weekend matches.

“This situation is not easy for me and my technical crew because a lot of the players we need to work with are being dragged away by their clubs to honor midweek and weekend League matches. Bayelsa Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and Sunshine Queens want their players for matches throughout the week till October 27.

“This is frustrating my training schedule because it means I have only few days to work with the full complement of players before we leave for the tournament. I have always built the foundation of my team on the home –based players. The absence of players affected the trial match we had on Sunday evening.

“I understand that they need these players to do well in the League, but we are running out of time and we need to draw a line between national interest and club interest.