Hahn into national league squad

Maya Hahn is readying herself for a few knocks.

The 15-year-old midfielder is one of the youngest named in the Capital Football squad that is preparing itself for the opening game of the National Women’s League on October 16.

Although from Eastbourne Hahn played the past three seasons for Western Suburbs and has been on the books at Ole Football Academy since she was 8.

‘‘It’s been great at Ole and Wests,’’ she said. ‘‘The training is intense and the coaches expect a lot, but I’ve loved it. It’s been satisfying playing with the level of footballers I have [in Porirua].’’

Her younger brother Max also attends Ole.

While Hahn has played in multiple positions at Wests, she will likely be deployed as an attacking centre-half should she start against WaiBOP on October 16.

She knows she will be up against older and bigger players, and take the occasional knock, but that’s part of playing at the national level.

‘‘I may not have as much time on the ball as I’m used to, but when you play football with boys [as she does at Ole], you get used to the speed.

‘‘I’m looking forward to having to push my own game up to the highest level you can go in New Zealand, against the best players around.’’

Hahn is in the New Zealand Secondary Schools squad and is a member of the wider under-17 national squad, and has her eye on that age group’s World Cup in Uruguay in late 2018.

She’s not getting too far ahead of herself, but knows the national league is a chance to press her claims further for a white jersey.

She said the atmosphere in the Capital squad had been welcoming.

Hahn has intentions of making a career from the game. Back in father Peter’s country of birth, Germany, in 2014, she got the opportunity to train with the Bayern Munich under-17 girls side, an experience she took plenty from.

After high school, Hahn hoped to play football and study at a university in the USA.