CYNTHIA UWAK, PERPETUA NKWOCHA ARRIVE

As Ntiero’s Falcons Takes Shape.Two of Super Falcons top strikers, China-based reigning African Woman Footballer of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha and FIFA Player of the Year Award nominee, Cynthia Uwak are hitting the country early this week as Chief Coach of the team, Ntiero Effiom steps up his preparations for a successful defence of the African Women Championship crown .

The 5th edition of the bi-ennial Championship kicks of on October 28 in Delta State, Nigeria with the Super Falcons tipped as favourites for the crown.Expected to arrive today, Monday October16, is Uwak who plies her trade for Finnish Premier League side, FC Pietatarsaal.“I had a chat with Cynthia (Uwak) and she assured me that she will be in camp on Monday.’ explained Falcons Chief Coach Effiom.

Uwak is a key member of the Falcons squad given her current form. Apart from scoring four goals at the last FIFA Women’s under-20 Championship in Russia, the Akwa Ibom born lad provided series of assists that won her a place in the FIFA All-Stars squad. Uwak is arriving the Kwale camp with her fellow FIFA Under-20 All Stars nominee, Rita Chikwelu, popularly called Akpantu, and keeper Rachel Ayegba whi is also based in Finland.

Nkwocha, who plies her trade with Tianjin Huisen, will be arriving the camp on Tuesday, October 17. The lanky goal-poacher is back-to-back reigning African Woman Footballer of the year in 2004 and 2005. She holds the competition scoring record with nine strikes recorded at the last edition of the Championship in South Africa. Four of those goals were scored against the Lionesses of Cameroun in the final.

At the Super Falcons camp in Kwale, the final squad is taking shape as Coach Effiom steps up preparation a notch .“We are into the next stage of the preparation”, announced Coach Ntiero. “With the foreign-based players arriving we are looking at the probables and possibles with a view to concentrating our technical work on their strengths and weaknesses. So far, I am satisfied with what the players have done.”

[photo]uwak[/photo]