July 21, (THEWILL) – The Netherlands’ national women’s football team has raised serious concerns over the organisation of the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Coach Andries Jonker was apprehensive about the training conditions at the Bay Oval in Tauranga, where the team is currently preparing for their opening match this Sunday. The main point of contention is the presence of a hard cricket pitch in the middle of the field, which the Dutch had requested to be removed months ago, fearing potential injuries to their players.
Despite previous assurances from FIFA following two inspection visits in October and February, the hard pitch remains intact, causing frustration and disappointment among the Dutch squad. Coach Jonker reacted saying: “We want to play a good first match against Portugal here, we want to have a top preparation, a top tournament and we also consider ourselves a top team. This does not fit. This fits with amateurism of the highest order.” Their training plans have been disrupted and they are forced to abandon full-pitch practices for safety reasons. The team will still use the Bay Oval for training, albeit with modified exercises to avoid potential risks.
The Dutch football association (KNVB) is adamant about their concerns and has called for immediate action to rectify the situation. While the team will continue their preparations ahead of their opening match against Portugal, the unresolved issue raises questions about the professionalism and preparation standards of the tournament organisers.
With the stakes high, the Netherlands is keen on presenting themselves as a top team and hopes that their concerns will be addressed promptly to ensure a successful and injury-free Women’s World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
