World Cup here we come
The Junior Football Ferns have booked a World Cup ticket after taking out the Oceania qualifier in February.
The team took on Vanuatu, Tonga and Papua New Guinea in a series of games at Centre Park during their bid to win the Oceania under-20 women’s championship last month.
They won the closing match 3-0 against Papua New Guinea, gaining the final spot in the FIFA under-20 women’s world cup finals in Canada in August.
Three Kings United stars Martine Puketapu and Emily Jensen were in the team.
Jensen was named the 2013 Northern Premier Women’s League’s Young Player of the Year last season.
Coach Aaron McFarland says he is ecstatic to be heading to the under-20 World Cup.
The final game was strongly fought, which made victory sweeter, he says.
‘‘Papua New Guinea came to the game with a lot of energy and made life difficult for us, which is exactly what we want.
‘‘I think a lot of kudos has to go to the island nations, where they’re putting a lot of resources into the women’s game, and it’s paying dividends.’’
McFarland will now be looking to spend more time with the group as they refine their game ahead of the World Cup.
‘‘There’ll be a group working in Auckland and some based in the United States, but working with all the individuals on all the programmes so that come the World Cup and beyond, which is really important as well, they’re as technically competent as possible.’’