All Falconets must be U20 - Etim
by Humphrey Njoku 07 February 2012, 08:22
Former Super Falcons assistant coach, Joy Nnenna Etim has charged Falconets coach, Edwin Okon to go for players within the Under20 age bracket.
Thirty players are already in the camp of the nation's Under20 women's team preparing for the African qualifying series of the 2012 Fifa Under20 World Cup.
Even though the Falconets are through to the next round of the qualifiers without kicking a ball due to the withdrawal of Sierra Leone, majority of the players have received the rebuke of the populace on the basis of their ages.
Etim told SuperSport.com that coach Okon will do himself a lot of good by going beyond the ages on the passports of the players.
"The coach should go for players whose ages could be determined on the spot without recourse to passport or affidavit.
"Talented players are abound in Nigeria within the age circle, players, just at a glance, you will say this is truly an Under20 player.
"We don't have any reason to use players above the required age in an age grade competition.
"Every age grade competition is purely developmental, and any coach saddled with that duty owes it to the country to go for suitable ages," she said.
The notable grassroots coach expressed discomfort at the cynical comments credited to the Kenyan Under17 coach, Fred Serenge over the ages of Nigeria's Under17 women's team players.
"The comments of the Kenyan coach could be likened to the voice of a bad loser.
"As much as it is not within his power to determine (the age of) an Under17 player, we must avoid providing room for suspicion.
"The bottom line is to pick players that are above board and whose age is self-proofing," she said.