Westfield Junior Matildas commence new cycle with training camp

Westfield Junior Matildas commence new cycle with training camp

The Westfield Junior Matildas will hold a training camp from 15 – 19 March 2021 as head coach Rae Dower brings together 26 players to kick off the new cycle at Valentine Sports Park in NSW. 

Featuring players born in 2005 and 2006, which is the birth cut-off year for players to participate in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in India, the training camp is the first opportunity for Dower and her technical staff to commence preparations for Round 1 of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers. 

“We're really excited about the new group coming through,” said Dower.  “It seems like every age cohort, we get probably a little bit more skill development, a little bit more creativity and a little bit more technically evolved.” 

“It seems like a lifetime ago that we were together in September 2019 with the last group. We've got an extended group of players that we've been keeping an eye on since the 2019 National Youth championships in July.”

With the Round 1 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers set to be played in Cessnock, NSW in September, Dower is excited about the upcoming chance for the final squad to play rare matches at home. 

“That’s extremely exciting for all the girls; their opportunity to play in front of family and friends and teammates and coaches that they've had supporting them on their journeys to date.” 

“Personally, it's also a first for me after a lot of years in the game.  It'll be a new opportunity to be able to really show what this next generation of players can do.  I'm really excited to be able to show the rest of Australia in their own backyard what these kids can achieve.” 

Westfield Junior Matildas training camp (15 – 19 March 2021)
Valentine Sports Park, NSW