AUCKLAND – New Zealand may have home advantage for the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup later this month, but it’s been no easy ride for the final squad named today by head coach Paul Temple.

While 18 of the 21 strong squad for the October 28 – November 16 tournament have been drawn from Auckland clubs, Temple says the fact that many of them chose to sacrifice the comforts of family and friends in hometowns across the country earlier this year is testimony to the desire within the group.

In January, hopefuls moved from Rotorua (Charlotte Wood), Napier (Claudia Crasborn), Palmerston North (Leah Gallie), Tauranga (Anna Fullerton and Jessica Rollings), Gore (Lauren Mathis) and Wellington (Hannah Wall and Yumi Nguyen) while the three remaining non-Auckland players either commuted from Hamilton three times a week or stayed in Christchurch and moved north in August.

“I think the size of the challenge ahead of us meant it was necessary to be able to train week in and week out and not be restricted to school holidays,” Temple said.

“In the end it was the team who decided as a group to come together in Auckland and make a real go of it.”

“It’s not something a normal teenaged girl would be doing and it’s a massive sacrifice for them. Some of them have moved away from their families so they don’t see their Mum, their Dad or their friends for eight to ten weeks at a time and that can be pretty difficult.”

“Some of them are at boarding school, some with host families and in other cases whole families have moved to support the player.”

While other teenage girls will be sweating over NCEA exams, the Young Football Ferns will face Group A tests from powerhouses Canada, Denmark and Colombia on October 28, November 1 and November 4 respectively.

“They’re still going to be studying for their exams during the World Cup so it provides a challenge for them but while their peers are finishing off school they’re playing the biggest games of their lives.”

Western Springs centre-back Briony Fisher has been named captain of the squad while 15 cap senior international midfielder Annalie Longo adds valuable experience to the group.

Meanwhile, two players have made the most of positional switches to cement their place in the squad.

Glenfield’s Caitlin Campbell has blossomed as a right fullback at despite winning two senior caps in 2006 as an attacking midfielder, while Christchurch’s Victoria Esson has shown the goalkeeper gloves fit well after converting herself from a defender little more than 12 months ago.

Fourteen year old Katie Bowen is the youngest member of the squad that also includes 15 year olds Rosie White and Nadia Pearl, with all three young enough to appear in the second U17 Women’s World Cup in 2010.

New Zealand will be based in Albany for their matches against Canada and Denmark before transferring to Wellington to face Colombia.

It will be New Zealand’s eleventh appearance at a FIFA World Cup or Olympic games and like all New Zealand teams before them, the Young Football Ferns start as group outsiders.

However, Temple sees no reason why his side cannot become the first New Zealand team to advance beyond the group stages of a World Cup.

“We all believe it can happen, but the first match is crucial. It sets the tone for the tournament.”

“We’re targeting an upset in the first game and get some points on the board and then who knows? We’re aiming to be the team that creates that little bit of history and hopefully we can do it.”

“We have experience at this age-group and talented players that can win us football matches, we just have to put it altogether on the day."

The Young Football Ferns are currently putting final touches on their preparation during a 12 day Albany-based training camp, with three warm up games scheduled against an Auckland/New Zealand selection on October 4, 11 and 16.

New Zealand squad for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Squad New Zealand (October 28-November 16)

Goalkeepers: 1-Charlotte Wood (Three Kings United), Victoria Esson (Coastal Spirit), 20-Danielle McFadyen (Western Springs)

Defenders: 2-Anna Fullerton (Glenfield Rovers), 3-Rebecca Brown (Eastern Suburbs), 5-Briony Fisher (Western Springs / Captain), 6-Bridgette Armstrong (Glenfield Rovers), 7-Caitlin Campbell (Glenfield Rovers), 21-Yumi Nguyen (Eastern Suburbs)

Midfielders: 4-Leah Gallie (Glenfield Rovers), 10-Annalie Longo (Three Kings United), 12-Claudia Crasborn (Western Springs), 13-Nadia Pearl (Western Springs), 14-Katie Bowen (Glenfield Rovers), 17-Jessica Rollings (Western Springs), 18-Lauren Mathis (Glenfield Rovers)

Forwards: 8-Sarah McLaughlin (Claudelands Rovers), 9-Hannah Wall (Western Springs), 11-Rosie White (Western Springs), 16-Megan Shea (Coastal Spirit), 19-Lauren Murray (Three Kings United)

Management Team: Paul Temple (Coach), Rowena Fulham (Assistant Coach), Jose Figueira (Technical Analyst), David Self (Goalkeeper Coach), Claire Smith (Sports Scientist), Anna Barlow (Physiotherapist), Victoria Hirst (Massage Therapist), Cathleen Bias (Manager), Celeste Geerstema (Doctor), Jamie Scott (Media Officer)

Story courtesy New Zealand Football (NZF) Media

Please visit www.nzsoccer.com for the latest news from NZF

 

FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP – New Zealand 2008

New Zealand fixtures

October 28 v Canada, North Harbour Stadium, 7pm

November 1 v Denmark, North Harbour Stadium, 4pm

November 4 v Colombia, Wellington Stadium, 7pm