The Futsal Ferns will look to continue their outstanding introduction to the international game when they head to China for a four-team tournament next month.

A women’s national team for the fast-paced, small-sided code was formed two years ago and is so far undefeated on the world stage, picking up two pieces of silverware along the way.

The aim will be to extend that run at the CFA Four Nations Women’s Futsal Tournament in Chengdu, in which New Zealand will take on hosts China, Thailand and Kuwait from 3 – 12 September.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us,” head coach Nic Downes says.

“We were able to travel to Australia at the start of the year and now this is another opportunity to press on to a higher, more challenging environment and see where we’re at.”

After winning the Trans-Pacific Futsal Cup against New Caledonia in their debut series in September of 2017, the Futsal Ferns headed to Australia last January and again claimed a trophy, this time winning the Gold Coast International Futsal Challenge.

A similar squad will be taken to China with Sophie Williams and Macey Fraser the only additions to the group that triumphed in Australia.

Downes is pleased to have that level of continuity but says the squad was one of the hardest to pick yet.

“The level of competition across the country is getting higher and we’ve got a squad of players who have consistently performed across a number of competitions. This year’s Women’s SuperLeague was the strongest yet.”

The Futsal Ferns celebrate winning the Gold Coast International Futsal Challenge

The Futsal Ferns will come up against some high-quality opposition in China with the hosts having made it to the quarter-finals of the 2018 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship while Thailand did even better, earning bronze on home soil.

“It’s a well-established sport within the Asian confederation so it’s fantastic that we’ve received an invitation to go over there and compete against these teams,” Downes says.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for the players to gain some valuable experience and it’s good to get this sort of quality game time under our belts.”

Futsal Ferns squad for China tour

Goalkeepers
Hannah Hegarty (Mainland)
Danielle Bradley (Auckland)

Fixos
Sophie Williams (Mainland)
Sarah Alder (Capital)
Shivanthi Anthony (Auckland)

Flankers
Dayna Manak (Auckland)
Francesca Grange (Capital)
Jessica Verdon (Auckland)
Macey Fraser (Mainland)
Tessa Leong (Auckland)
Britney-Lee Nicholson (Mainland)

Pivot
Maxine Cooper (Auckland)

Head coach: Nic Downes
Assistant coach: Shingo Ina
Team manager: Tracey Spray
Physio: Emily Lo

Match Details

New Zealand vs China
Saturday 7 September, 2pm (6pm NZT)

New Zealand vs Thailand
Sunday 8 September, 4.30pm (8.30pm NZT)

New Zealand vs Kuwait
Tuesday 10 September, 4.30pm (8.30pm NZT)

Article added: Friday 09 August 2019