HIBERNIAN will play tomorrow’s SWPL1 game against Stirling University at Easter Road to give their players a feel for the pitch ahead of next month’s Uefa Women's Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
That’s the positive news at the end of a week in which managers and coaches have been anxiously monitoring the health of their Scotland Under-19s players.
Most of that squad are first-team players with the top clubs. They spent more than a week in Albania, scoring 19 goals in two games against the hosts and Cyprus, but were unable to play their third Euro qualifying group game against Serbia because of illness.
Nine players and eight backroom staff were laid low with acute gastroenteritis and the match was postponed after a local doctor confirmed the players’ medical condition. Serbia are, controversially, claiming the three points, and Uefa will come to a decision on Wednesday.
An already bad situation was made much worse when media outlets picked up on a report emanating from Serbia that the real reason the game was postponed was because the Scots had been drinking heavily.
Despite the claim being malicious and absurd – Scotland’s top women footballers adhere to a strict sports science regime which forbids alcohol around games – it only added to the players’ trauma and some parents are understandably incensed.
Hibs had three in the squad, two of whom were affected by the bug and weren’t able to train until last night. Head coach Chris Roberts said: “It has been horrendous for them. They were so ill that football (against Serbia) wasn’t an option.
“Now it’s not just about feeling better – it’s about energy levels and how much they’ve been able to eat.”
On a brighter note, Roberts is delighted that his players will play at Easter Road.
“It has been planned for a while,” he said. “It’s a ‘well done’ for the girls but it also gives them an opportunity to get used to the pitch in preparation for Bayern.
“We’re due one or two games a year on the pitch and played Spartans and Aberdeen the season before last.
"For some of the girls like Joelle Murray, Siobhan Hunter and Lisa Robertson who are absolute die-hard Hibees, it’s the ultimate.”
In the other games Celtic play Rangers and Spartans host Glasgow City. Forfar must avoid defeat at Aberdeen or they are almost certain to be relegated.
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