A wider squad has been camp since 6 January with coach Jitka Klimkova putting them through their paces with daily training and at least one game a week.
“At the moment we have 26 players in the camp, 22 field players and four goalkeepers, and we go to the States in the beginning of February for a big tournament and we’ll take 20 players, and for Costa Rica we’ll take 20 players,” Klimkova says.
It’s the fourth camp the team has had since Klimkova joined the fold in April 2013 and she’s confident the time spent together has been beneficial.
The former Czech Republic defender has experience as a player and coach at senior club and international level and holds a UEFA Pro Licence. She joined NZF from Australian W-League side Canberra United where she was head coach.
The Young Football Ferns have been drawn alongside Paraguay, Spain and Japan in Group C of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup which gets underway on 15 March in Costa Rica.
The Kiwis will be based at Ricardo Saprissa Ayma Stadium in Tibas for their first two matches, before moving to the National Stadium of Costa Rica in San Jose for their final group match against Japan.
VIDEO CONTENT
Young Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova talks about the squad’s recent camp and upcoming plans to tour the USA. To view, click here
New Zealand U-17 coach Jitka Klimkova shares her thoughts on being drawn in Group C at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. To view, click here
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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