The Westfield Young Matildas have arrived in New Zealand for a three-match series against the Junior Football Ferns in Auckland.
The Westfield Young Matildas have arrived in New Zealand for a three-match series against the Junior Football Ferns in Auckland.
The Westfield Young Matildas arrived in New Zealand yesterday and will kick start their three game series on Thursday 25 July, followed by further games on Saturday 27 July and Monday 29 July .
Head Coach of the Westfield Young Matildas, Spencer Prior, is hoping to use the upcoming games against the Junior Football Ferns as an opportunity to test the U20-s national women-s team skill against our local rivals.
“This will be the first opportunity to get the team in a different environment to challenge them in preparation for the AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) champs in Myanmar in September,” said Prior.
“So far all of our training and preparation matches have been based out of Canberra and it-s now time to test the team in a new environment to see how they cope with that challenge.
“We have a big schedule to round out the year with the AFF tournament and then the FIFA U20 World Cup qualifiers in China in October.
“We play New Zealand now and then take on the senior Vietnam and Thailand teams in Myanmar in September which will give us a solid platform to measure ourselves before we head to China.”
Prior has named a 20-player squad that will travel to New Zealand that includes players from the NSW and Queensland National Training Centre.
“We-re looking to see if the team has taken on board our playing style and what we-ve been working on,” continued Prior.
“I expect the girls to be competitive but this is still just a part of our prep for the Women-s U20 World Cup qualifiers.
“As important as preparing for qualification for major tournaments is, these matches also form part of their overall development. I think it is important for the young players to experience qualifying for a World Cup as part of their preparation for progressing to the senior team and a career in football.”
Following their final match on Monday 29 July the Westfield Young Matildas will return home to Australia on Tuesday 30 July 2013.
Westfield Young Matildas New Zealand Tour Match Details Westfield Young Matildas v Junior Football Ferns Thursday 25 July, 2013 Rangitoto College, Auckland Kick Off: 3.00pm (NZST) Note: This is a closed door match only open to authorised media
Westfield Young Matildas v Junior Football Ferns Saturday 27 July, 2013 Kiwitea Street, Auckland Kick Off: 2.30pm (NZST)
Westfield Young Matildas v Junior Football Ferns Monday 29 July, 2013 Seddon Fields, Auckland Kick Off: 2.30pm (NZST)
Westfield Young Matildas Squad 1. Sham KHAMIS; 2. Rachel SOUTER; 3. Alex HUYHN; 4. Grace FIELD; 5. Emma CHECKER; 6. Sally ROJAN; 7. Chloe LOGARZO; 8. Nat TOBIN; 9. Olivia PRICE; 10. Hayley RASO; 11. Britt WHITFIELD; 12. Tara ANDREWS; 13. Mackenzie ARNOLD; 14. Meg McLAUGHLIN; 15. Liz RALSTON; 16. Amy HARRISON; 17. Natasha WHEELER; 18. Melissa CACERAS; 19. Grace MACINTYRE; 20. Alycia BASS