Tony Readings has included New Zealand-based players Kate Loye, Aimee Phillips and 16-year-old Grace Jale in a 19-player squad confirmed for the Football Ferns’ fifth and sixth matches against the seventh-ranked South American giants in the last three years.
Readings says the inclusion of the trio, currently playing in the national ASB Women’s League competition, freshens up his options in the middle and attacking thirds of the pitch.
“It is important that we are constantly looking at bringing players into the squad who will add to the quality of the group and provide us with different qualities and options.,” he says.
“Kate Loye has proven again in the ASB Women’s League that she has the qualities to perform on the senior international stage. She will add competition for selection to a quality group of midfield players.
“Aimee has been training with our Auckland-based group for several months and has impressed the coaching staff and has transferred this form into the women’s league. She brings something different to the team and is hungry to take her opportunity at this level.”
Loye has represented New Zealand on the world stage previously with appearances at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 World Cup events in 2010 and 2012 while the Brazil tour will be Phillips’ first involvement at international level.
The talented Jale, a member of both the U-17 and U-20 squads, has come through the pathway leading to the national side having been involved the youth development National Talent Centre programme before featuring in both age-group sides.
Readings says the Football Ferns staff have been monitoring Jale’s progress and now is the time to give her a chance with the senior national side.
“Grace has been identified in the system for a while so we have been aware of her qualities. She performed very well for the U-20s in their recent World Cup qualifiers and has continued this form in the ASB Women’s League.
“She possesses the attacking qualities we are looking to improve in the squad and this a great opportunity to continue her development.”
The new trio will be part of a relatively settled squad looking to hone their approach in the side’s first international action since the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in June, with Readings using the tour to lay the ground work for the 16th-ranked team’s tilt at the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
“This is the first step in our Olympic preparation and Brazil will again provide us with the top level opposition we require,” Readings said.
“The tour will also give us an opportunity to experience playing in the conditions we will face should we qualify for the tournament.”
“We will be implementing several changes during this tour as we work towards continuing the progression of the team.
“The World Cup provided us with some excellent learnings and it is now down to the whole group to put these into place and ruthlessly pursue the performance improvements we require.”
The first game of the tour is in Sao Paulo on 28 November with the second match in Cuiaba on 1 December.
The Football Ferns recorded their first win over Brazil at the Valais Cup in Switzerland in 2013 before 1-1 and 0-0 draws in New Zealand last year. The other recent match-up was a 1-0 defeat to the South Americans at the 2012 London Olympics.
Football Ferns v Brazil
November, 2015
(Caps/Goals/Club)
Goalkeepers
Cushla Lichtwark (0/0/Upper Hutt City FC, NZL)
Erin Nayler (31/0/Norwest Utd, NZL)
Defenders
CJ Bott (1/0/Forrest Hill Milford Utd AFC, NZL)
Abby Erceg (capt – 116/5/AS Elfen Saitama, JPN)
Anna Green (56/7/AS Elfen Saitama, JPN)
Ria Percival (106/11/USV Jena, GER)
Ali Riley (95/1/FC Rosengard, SWE)
Rebekah Stott (42/3/Melbourne City FC, AUS)
Midfielders
Katie Duncan (105/1/FC Zurich, SWT)
Betsy Hassett (81/8/Amazon Grimstad, NOR)
Grace Jale (0/0/Eastern Suburbs AFC, NZL)
Annalie Longo (81/6/Coastal Spirit, NZL)
Kate Loye (0/0/Claudelands Rovers, NZL)
Kirsty Yallop (90/12/Brisbane Roar, AUS)
Forwards
Sarah Gregorius (69/21/AS Elfen Saitama, JPN)
Amber Hearn (102/45/USV Jena, GER)
Jasmine Pereira (10/0/Three Kings Utd, NZL)
Aimee Phillips (0/0/Forrest Hill Milford Utd AFC, NZL)
Rosie White (71/14/Liverpool FC, ENG)
Management staff
Head coach: Tony Readings
Assistant coach: Aaron McFarland
Assistant coach: Danny Robinson
Goalkeeper coach: Nigel Piper
Manager: Claire Hamilton
Performance Analyst: Gary Connell
Sports Scientist: Harriet Steele
Physiotherapist: Catherine Porteous
Doctor: Penelope Day
Match schedule
Football Ferns v Brazil
November 28
Estádio do Pacaembu
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Football Ferns v Brazil
December 1
Arena Pantanal
Cuiaba, Brazil
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football