Briar’s off to football worlds
US beckons as she looks to fulfilling her professional goals
Briar Palmer’s passport is about to take a hammering.
The 17-year-old forward heads to Azerbaijan next week as part of New Zealand’s Young Football Ferns for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
The year 12 Chilton Saint James School pupil joins three others from her Waterside Karori Club also named in the side.
‘‘We’re pleased to have so many from our club in the team because we already know how each other plays,’’ she said.
The squad leaves for Switzerland on September 12 for warmup matches against Colombia.
‘‘Then we pass through Turkey on the way to Azerbaijan with our first game against Mexico on September 23.’’
New Zealand has drawn a tough pool which also includes Asian champions Japan and South American champions Brazil.
‘‘They’re all good – but we’re definitely up there too,’’ Briar said. ‘‘I reckon we can do really well. We just have to believe in ourselves.’’
All three of New Zealand’s pool games in the 16-nation competition are in Baku, the country’s capital.
‘‘We’ve been told that this is one of the best under-17 teams that we’ve had and you can see that in the stats.’’
The team’s record includes eight internationals, clocking up seven wins and a draw.
During the side’s first trip away together, in February, they trav- elled to Argentina where they beat the host side in both games.
‘‘ We coped well and played some pretty good football. It was good experience for us.’’
Briar rates Japan as the Kiwis’ toughest challenge.
‘‘They are definitely a top, top team and would probably be the best in our pool. They’re so sharp and quick and mentally determined to be the best.
‘‘But with good defending and determination from us, I think we can take them on.’’
2012 has been a good year for the talented player. A stellar performance in April at the Oceania under-17 tournament in Auckland, saw her win the Golden Ball award for best player of the series.
‘‘That was a bit of a shock. I thought lots of players had a really good tournament so I didn’t expect it at all’’.
She has also accepted a full scholarship to Shattuck St Mary’s School in Minnesota to attend its high performance soccer academy. Briar is also keen to land an American university scholarship in 2014. Her ultimate goal is to join a professional league.