Its a big battle, the womens side of the game is still some way off being able to provide incomes to all its top players and to all intents and purposes has no choice but to operate as an amateur sport but the difficult reality is that to compete at the very top in womens football requires professional full time levels of effort and commitment.
No winners here and I feel for the player having to come to this sort of decision while so young. Despite what one utter wanker on here is alluding to the reality is that NZF are asking/requiring the womens team to train at levels which deserve some sort of financial assistance. A huge amount has been invested in training, travel and games but nothing has been invested in assisting the players to train at the levels they are being asked to hit.
Can I ask what level of financial assistance you would suggest?
I strongly believe they need to find a sponsor, yesterday, to help, because it is getting towards a breaking point.
But, for example, if they were to give $50 of petrol vouchers to the 25 players involved in the domestic programme for 48 weeks a year, that would be $60,000. Bear in mind that NZF has had to step up to pay for the services lost as a result of losing HSPNZ carding. And based on what Jasmine has said, I don't think that contribution would change her situation enough to make continuing with international football tenable.
Edit: What's the bet they spend $60,000 on futsal? There you go.