Longo calls for double round
Annalie Longo is urging New Zealand Football to consider a double round for their national women’s league.
Experienced Football Fern Longo will captain the Canterbury United Pride when they host Capital in the final at English Park on Sunday.
The seven-team competition operates to a round-robin format, where each side plays each other once and is over in nine weeks.
Longo said it was far too short and was desperate to see a double round-robin, like the men’s national league.
‘‘You do a big pre-season and your pre-season is almost longer than your whole season. All this work for only really six or seven games.’’
Funding and sponsorship would both need to increase dramatically for a longer competition to be viable.
Longo believed the standard of the league was becoming stronger each season, illustrated by the fact three sides finished joint top after round play. Defending champions Northern were a further point back.
She said there was bright young talent coming through the competition. It was imperative they had hardened matches over the summer months to keep improving and stay match-fit.
‘‘With such a short round, it leaves no room for error. I believe the [competition] needs to go to two rounds just for the game.’’
The Pride will be out to atone for last year’s final, where they lost 4-3 to a classy Northern side. Longo said the returning players were gutted to lose at home in the decider and would use that disappointment to fire them up.
‘‘It was very hard. Northern had a fantastic squad and they did this season too. We’ll try and draw on that pain and put it right this weekend.’’
Canterbury are playing in their fourth straight final, winning back to back titles in 2013 and 2014, when it was a competition for under-20s and five over-age players.
Longo said it was a tremendous achievement and was proud of the way her side had become a domestic women’s football powerhouse.
‘‘It’s absolutely fantastic for the federation and for the girls. To be honest, before the start of the season, I thought it was a bit of a building year.
We had a very young squad. They’ve impressed me every week and done their job and got points and now we’re in the final.’’
Canterbury won the round match 3-1 against Capital with Longo scoring two cracking goals.