Canberra United are well represented in the Westfield Matildas training squad that meets at the AIS from January 14-17 in preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be held in China with five players selected.
Canberra United are well represented in the Westfield Matildas training squad that meets at the AIS from January 14-17 in preparation for the AFC Women-s Asian Cup to be held in China with five players selected.
Westfield Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni named a strong squad of 29 for the camp that included Canberra United Co-Captains Ellie Brush and Lydia Williams, United ‘Player of the Year- Ellyse Perry, young star Emily Van Egmond and experienced campaigner Thea Slatyer.
Sermanni will be using the first camp of the year as an important part of the team-s preparations for the AFC Women-s Asian Cup 2010 which will be held in Chengdu, China between 19-30 May.
The Westfield Matildas have been drawn in Group B of the AFC Women-s Asian Cup 2010 along with host nation China, Vietnam and Korea Republic.
The AFC Women-s Asian Cup 2010 also serves as a qualifying competition for the 2011 FIFA Women-s World Cup which will be held in Germany. Only the top three Asian teams from the AFC Women-s Asian Cup 2010 will progress to the 2011 FIFA Women-s World Cup. Australia is currently ranked 14 in the FIFA Women-s World Rankings and fourth within the AFC.
Canberra United Coach Ray Junna was happy with the selection of his players for the camp.
“I-m pleasantly surprised that we got as many as that in the squad, but it is well deserved after the performances that the players put in during the season,” Junna said.
“All five performed exceptionally well in training and games for us this year and the call-ups are well merited.”
Junna thought that young tyro Ashleigh Sykes may have been in the mix for selection amongst several other of Canberra United-s youngsters who reached the semi-finals of the Westfield W-League in season two.
“I thought Ashleigh [Sykes] may have had a look in,” Junna commented, before adding, tongue-in-cheek, “it would have been nice to have a few more in the squad!”
Westfield Matildas squad list
Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Training Camp, AIS Football Fields
14-17 January 2010
Teigen ALLEN (Sydney FC), Laura ALLEWAY (Melbourne Victory), Melissa BARBIERI (Melbourne Victory), Leah BLAYNEY (Central Connecticut State University, USA), Ellie BRUSH (Canberra United), Joanne BURGESS (Brisbane Roar), Tameka BUTT (Brisbane Roar), Lauren COLTHORPE (Brisbane Roar), Casey DUMONT (Brisbane Roar), Heather GARRIOCK (Sydney FC), Kathryn GILL (Perth Glory), Michelle HEYMAN (Central Coast Mariners), Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (Brisbane Roar), Samantha KERR (Perth Glory), Leena KHAMIS (Sydney FC), Kylie LEDBROOK (Sydney FC), Aivi LUIK (Brisbane Roar), Collette McCALLUM (Perth Glory), Sian McLAREN (Adelaide United), Kate McSHEA (Brisbane Roar), Ellyse PERRY (Canberra United), Clare POLKINGHORNE (Brisbane Roar), Karla REUTER (Brisbane Roar), Kyah SIMON (Sydney FC), Thea SLATYER (Canberra United), Emily VAN EGMOND (Canberra United), Sarah WALSH (Sydney FC), Lydia WILLIAMS (Canberra United) and Emma WIRKUS (Adelaide United).
