After featuring on Saturday in the Football Ferns 16-0 win in Kokopo in the first match of the OFC Women’s Nations Cup – the region’s FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament – Erceg became the first ever New Zealand footballer to reach 100 senior international caps.
Readings said the contribution Erceg has made to the evolution of the Football Ferns has been immense, beginning the moment she stepped into the international spotlight as a 16-year-old in 2006 against China.
“Playing 100 matches for your country is a massive achievement and I know that Abby is really proud of what she has accomplished and we’re all really proud of her as well,” Readings said.
“Some of the players have taken a while to get used to the standard of international football but Abby was one who could always compete even when she first came into the team when she was 16.
“Now she is recognised as one of the best defenders in the world and she’s played in the Bundesliga, in the top US division last year and she is a figurehead now for our team.”
Having amassed all that experience at the top level over eight years, Readings says the now 24-year-old Erceg is helping shape the future of the team through her leadership role.
“With all that time and experience under her belt she is now captain of the team so she is adding value in a lot more ways.
“The 100 games has obviously helped her get better but she’s now helping the other players in the team and some of the younger ones and there’s one thing we need to remember that she is still pretty young herself.
“I’m hoping in about five or six years time people are talking about Abby playing 200 games for the Ferns because there are a lot of players in the world who play that amount of games for their country.
“Abby still has so much room for improvement and so much potential that’s not been realised as a player and a captain I hope she has got a lot more caps to come and she can lead the team to more success.”
For more on New Zealand football go to www.nzfootball.co.nz