The 36-year-old, who won 107 caps in a 10-year career for cricket’s White Ferns, has been included as back up for Jenny Bindon in the 12-nation event as coach Tony Readings looks to find the right mix of goalkeepers from a group that has Erin Naylor and new Liverpool signing Aroon Clansey waiting in the wings.
Rolls, who played for the Football Ferns between 1994 and 1996, is one of three changes to the squad that was narrowly beaten 2-1 by the USA in Texas after the Olympic champions struck two goals in the last four minutes. She replaces Naylor while Katie Bowen and Emma Kete, who both missed the USA tour through injury, are additions.
The squad is building towards the London Olympics – New Zealand’s final two qualifiers are in March and April – but for Rolls, who has been to three cricket World Cups including a wining campaign on home soil in 2000, the focus is first about proving something to herself.
“The Olympics is a big part of the campaign going forward but it’s not the main reason for me,” Rolls says.
“I reached a point where I got far too curious to know if I could still play and what level that was at. I watched the FIFA Women’s World Cup and was impressed by the team’s commitment and culture, and thought if I don’t try now I’ll never know.
“I just want to add anything I can to the campaign – whether that’s travelling on tours or as part of the training squad. Football’s always been my favourite sport so it’s great to get the opportunity to be involved again.”
New Zealand face Northern Ireland, Korea Republic and South Africa in Group C of the Cyprus Cup beginning next Tuesday and coach Tony Readings is keen to claim some scalps after going agonisingly close against the USA.
“South Africa have already qualified so it’ll be great to test ourselves against Olympic opposition while, on paper, Korea will be the toughest team in our group and Northern Ireland are an unknown threat,” Readings says.
“We had a good tour of the States and its important now to maintain momentum and keep learning and improving ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in late March.”
Football Ferns squad for Cyprus Cup
(Club – caps/goals in brackets)
Goalkeepers
Jenny BINDON (Hibiscus Coast – 61/0)
Rebecca ROLLS (Metro – 11/0)
Defenders
Abbey ERCEG (Adelaide United, AUS – 63/4)
Anna GREEN (Lokomotive Leipzig, AUS – 42/5)
Kristy HILL (Three Kings United – 17/0)
Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers – 0/0)
Ria PERCIVAL (FFC Frankfurt, GER – 60/7)
Ali RILEY (Unattached – 53/1)
Rebecca SMITH (captain, VfL Wolfsburg, GER – 59/3)
Midfielders
Katie BOWEN (Glenfield Rovers – 6/0)
Betsy HASSETT (Univ. California Berkeley, USA – 28/3)
Katie HOYLE (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 52/1)
Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United – 33/0)
Hayley MOORWOOD (Chelsea, ENG – 70/7)
Kirsty YALLOP (Vittsjo, SWE – 51/11)
Forwards
Sarah GREGORIUS (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 18/9)
Amber HEARN (USV Jena, GER – 50/23)
Emma KETE (Canberra United – 42/3)
Rosie WHITE (UCLA, USA – 31/7)
Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers – 25/10)
Staff
Tony READINGS – Head Coach
Gordon FORREST – Assistant Coach
Julie HOGG – Manager
Jen SAYER – Physiotherapist
Brad CONZA – Sports Scientist
Gary CONNELL – Technical Analyst
Dave SELF – Goalkeeping Coach
2012 Cyprus Cup
Group A: England, Finland, France, Switzerland
Group B: Canada, Netherlands, Italy, Scotland
Group C: New Zealand, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Korea Republic
February 28
New Zealand v Northern Ireland
5.30pm (4.30am Feb 29 NZT)
March 1
New Zealand v South Africa
5.30pm (4.30am Mar 3 NZT)
March 4
New Zealand v Korea Republic
2.30pm (1.30am Mar 5 NZT)
March 6
Finals day
Olympic Games – OFC Qualification Playoff (home and away)
Mar 31
New Zealand v TBD
April 4
New Zealand v TBD
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz

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