Defender returns to Ferns fold
This time, Abby Erceg is back for good.
The star Football Ferns defender has come out of international retirement to make herself available for the team’s World Cup campaign, after taking a stand against former coach Andreas Heraf.
The 29-year-old retired from international football in May, later revealing she was unhappy with the team environment under Heraf, who resigned in July and was later found to have engaged in bullying behaviour while in charge.
Heraf has since been replaced by popular Scotsman Tom Sermanni, who Erceg felt was the right person to lead the Ferns forward.
‘‘I felt I needed to take a bit of a stand and there have been a lot of changes,’’ Erceg said. ‘‘Obviously the last time I came back it was a difficult time and it wasn’t quite right. This time I have done my research that it is going to be the right thing for me to do.
‘‘When I do come back I want to make sure that it is for good this time. I have a lot of confidence in Tom and what he is going to do with the team.
‘‘It was a big decision again. It was pretty hard the first time and even harder the second. I worked with Tom for a number of years and we have had conversations around what the future of New Zealand Football looks like.
‘‘He is obviously keen to have the best players on the team. I really want to do everything I can to help the team at these big events. That is what it has all been for.’’
Erceg’s return is a massive boost for the Ferns ahead of the World Cup, which starts in June.
She led North Carolina Courage to the NWSL title in 2018 and is regarded as one of the premier defenders in the women’s game.
‘‘We know that we won’t be one of the top ranked teams but all we can do is give it 100 per cent. If the New Zealand U-17s are anything to go by with their success, they showed that we can do it. We can compete against the best teams in the world. They have given us some motivation and inspiration. Hopefully that gets us through.’’
Currently holidaying in Northland, Erceg will make her long-awaited return at next month’s Cup of Nations, where New Zealand will take on hosts Australia, Argentina and Korea Republic.
‘‘It is exciting for not only me but for the girls and Tom as well to have the chance to play against a team like Australia,’’ she said.
‘‘They are doing really well at the moment so it is going to be a good test for us to see where we really stand heading into the World Cup. I love the challenge of playing them and the challenge of playing the top teams in the world. It is going to be fun.’’
The return of the 132-cap international follows that of midfielder Katie Duncan, who has also come out of international retirement to stake her claim for a place on the World Cup roster.