Foster kicks on,
All Blacks coach Ian Foster received a parting gift as he embarked on the team’s northern tour.
It was from his football-playing daughter Michaela.
‘‘I sent him over with a Wellington Phoenix shirt so hopefully I get a photo of him wearing it watching us,’’ she said.
At 23, Foster is set to fulfil her dream of playing professional football after being snapped up by the Phoenix ahead of their A-League Women season.
Foster hopes playing for the Phoenix will give her the best chance of playing for the Football Ferns at next year’s Women’s World Cup.
‘‘Before signing with the Phoenix I was working back at my old high school, Hamilton Girls’, doing a bit of teaching in the sports department. Once I got signed I was quite proud to tell them because Grace Wisnewski and Georgia Candy are from the same high school.
‘‘You can see the girls’ excitement just knowing someone is in the team as it makes them feel like they can do this one day.’’
Watching the Phoenix’s inaugural A-League Women helped convince Foster to stick with football and see where the sport could take her after graduating from San Diego University last year.
She caught the eye of Phoenix coach Natalie Lawrence while playing for Northern Rovers. Lawrence said Foster was the best player on the domestic scene.
‘‘This was the next step on the football journey and the dream.
‘‘It was amazing to see these girls play last year and to see them pushed me to kind of finish up in San Diego and see if I could make it [as a professional]. Even for girls my age, it’s still doable. There’s still an opportunity.’’ Despite split loyalties over which English Premier League club they support – Michaela is a Liverpool fan, Ian follows Everton – she said her dad was one of her biggest supporters. In fact, the All Blacks coach encouraged her to play football at a young age, Foster going on to