{"id":289478,"date":"2023-09-29T18:34:32","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T18:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/?p=289478"},"modified":"2023-09-29T18:34:32","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T18:34:32","slug":"aston-villa-players-to-keep-wearing-wet-kit-despite-complaints","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsloveme.com\/soccer\/aston-villa-players-to-keep-wearing-wet-kit-despite-complaints\/","title":{"rendered":"Aston Villa players to keep wearing \u2018wet\u2019 kit despite complaints"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aston Villa are to wear the club\u2019s controversial new home strip for their Women\u2019s Super League opener against Manchester United, despite ongoing issues with kit manufacturer Castore.<\/p>\n
Villa\u2019s men\u2019s team have complained to the club over the design of the kit, which retains sweat and leaves the shirts feeling heavy and uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
The club are reportedly in the process of cutting ties with British company Castore and ending their contract early, while the kit manufacturer is said to be working on coming up with a solution to the problem.<\/p>\n
Concerns were raised ahead of Villa\u2019s opening WSL fixture, a match that will be broadcast live on the BBC, but manager Carla Ward has said the players have agreed to wear the shirt after having the option to wear the away kit instead. The men\u2019s team will also continue to wear the home kit when they host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have similar concerns as to what the men have,\u201d Villa manager Ward said on Friday. \u201cIt was highlighted early in the pre-season from the men\u2019s side and backed up by the women.<\/p>\n
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“But as far as I am concerned, it\u2019s over to the club and Castore to deal with it, my focus has to be the weekend and making sure the players are focused on that.<\/p>\n
“One thing I will say is the club has been absolutely superb in these last few days. There\u2019s been a constant communication of how can we help the players and make them feel better.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s a genuine care from the football club. The players feel that, we feel that, and our focus is now solely on Manchester United.”<\/p>\n
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Aston Villa\u2019s Boubacar Kamara in the \u2018wet\u2019 kit against Everton<\/p>\n
Villa signed a contract with British company Castore, who have also produced kits for Newcastle, Wolves and Rangers this season, in 2022 and there were no issues with the design on last season\u2019s kit.<\/p>\n
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The BBC commentator Jacqui Oatley told Newsbeat this week that Villa\u2019s players would be \u201cdreading\u201d wearing the shirt because of it would look.<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally they\u2019d absolutely relish those games and look forward to them,\u201d Oately said. \u201cBut they\u2019re actually dreading it because they\u2019re really conscious about how they\u2019re going to look in this wet, clingy kit – for obvious reasons.”<\/p>\n