Germany match came too early for Falcons — Jossy Lad

Jossy Lad




A former coach of the Super Falcons Mr. Jossy Lad has said that it was error of judgement for the Nigerian women to have played Germany in an international friendly. The coach told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that the game took place too soon after the Falcons won the African Women Championship in South Africa.

The African champions were beaten 8-0 in the match played in Leverkusen, Germany on Thursday.

He said, “It was not the right time for the Falcons to play a match; it was certainly too early. The players and their managers are still basking in the euphoria of winning a major competition and can hardly be in a frame of mind for such in a match a short time with reception parties still on. They should have completed the celebrations, allow the ladies to take a break and return to camp and business before playing against any team.

“Since the coach had said major training would begin in January, I believe such international match should have held as from that time. They should not have honoured it now. It is the same Germany that they lost to by just a goal at the Olympics so how could this have happened if we chose the right time?”

But despite the humiliation the team led by Eucharia Uche suffered in the hands of Germany, the former Leventis United coach said it will be quite wrong to rule out the Falcons from any meaningful impact at the 2011 FIFA Women‘s World Cup also holding in Germany.

”Friendly games are meant to expose the weaknesses and strengths of teams and so I believe that the team was laid bare on Thursday. Their managers would have observed a lot of things they missed out in South Africa and should be able to rise thereafter. It will be huge mistake for anybody or team to dismiss the Falcons based on this performance.

”They can still be counted on. They complained about the cold weather and I know under similar conditions in future they should be able to address it properly. It will not be fair to base judgement solely on their performance on Thursday.”

Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea will represent Africa at the world stage next year.
Source:punchng.com