The Young Football Ferns face Venezeula, Spain and Japan in Group C of the 16-nation tournament which runs from September 5 to 25, and Edmondson says the newest crop of World Cup-bound kiwis have the attributes to be competitive.
“There’s a nice blend of players,” he says.
“There’s some real attacking players, really creative players with great vision and some talented defenders with pace, strength and aggression.”
Metro FC in Auckland and Hamilton’s Claudelands Rovers are the most heavily represented clubs with six players apiece, while Lynn Avon United, Three Kings United and Eastern Suburbs each supply two players, and Glenfield, Hawera and Coastal Spirit one each.
Captain Katie Bowen, a veteran of the 2008 U-17 squad, is the only player to have taken part at a FIFA event before while at the other end of the scale, Edmondson has selected two 15-year-olds – defender Megan Lee and goalkeeper Lily Alfeld – as well as 14-year-old midfielder Hannah Carlson.
“It’s the first step on the international stage for the majority of players. But a big chunk of the squad have played premier league football in the winter or even National Women’s League so whilst they are young there’s a fair bit of experience as well.
“As for the young girls, they are all there on merit. They’ll have an impact on this campaign and either the U-17s again or U-20s next time around.”
The competiveness of New Zealand age-group sides at FIFA events has increased rapidly since Australia departed OFC for the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 and Edmondson aims to build on that trend while fulfilling the U-17 mandate of uncovering and developing future senior internationals.
“It’s a pretty even balance between growing players and achieving results. I’m picking players who have the technical and athletic potential to go on and play for the U-20s or Football Ferns in the future. But part of that development and part of what I’ve looked for is a competitive spirit.”
“This group is competitive and they want to win every game they play. So whilst the squad has been picked with an eye on the future, every girl selected wants to go and win the World Cup. We’ll be trying to win every game we play and be as competitive as possible.”
Midfielder Jessica Mathews maintains a strong family tradition and will emulate her brother Jacob, a member of the 2007 Young All Whites, by playing at a FIFA U-17 World Cup. Their older twin brothers, Joel and Sam, also played age-group football for New Zealand.
The Young Football Ferns play two friendlies against fellow World Cup finalists en route to the Caribbean, facing Korea Republic and Republic of Ireland in Miami on August 28 and 31 respectively.
New Zealand squad for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad & Tobago 2010
Goalkeepers
1-Chloe-May GEURTS (Hawera)
20-Jessica REDDAWAY (Metro)
21-Lily ALFELD (Coastal Spirit)
Defenders
14-Katie BOWEN (Captain / Glenfield Rovers)
17-Sivitha BOYCE (Metro)
15-Kate CARLTON (Claudelands Rovers)
2-Rachel HEAD (Metro)
13-Megan LEE (Lynn Avon United)
3-Tessa MCPHERSON (Lynn Avon United)
19-Michelle WINDSOR (Metro)
Midfielders
18-Rebecca BURROWS (Metro)
9-Hannah CARLSEN (Metro)
4-Olivia CHANCE (Claudelands Rovers)
8-Kate LOYE (Claudelands Rovers)
6-Evie MILLYNN (Eastern Suburbs)
7-Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers)
16-Jessica MATHEWS (Three Kings United)
Forwards
5-Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH (Eastern Suburbs)
11-Grace PARKINSON (Claudelands Rovers)
12-Stephanie SKILTON (Three Kings United)
10-Hannah WONG (Claudelands Rovers)
Management Team
Head Coach: Dave Edmondson
Assistant Coach: Jill Gilmore
Gk Coach: Gene Granger
Team Manager: Mariah Meagher
Physiotherapist: Kelly Rope
Sports Scientist: Gareth Ashton
Doctor: Penelope Day
Head of Delegation: Bev Priestman
Young Football Ferns schedule
Warm-ups
August 28 – New Zealand v Korea Republic, Miami, USA
August 31 – New Zealand v Republic of Ireland, Miami, USA
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
Group C
Sept 6 – New Zealand v Venezuela, Couva, Trinidad
Sept 9 – New Zealand v UEFA 1, Couva, Trinidad
Sept 13 – New Zealand v Japan, Scarborough, Tobago
Story courtesy of NZF Media.
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