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A small football club in North Canterbury is delighted by the success of three young players on a World Cup wave.
Three of the 21 members of the New Zealand squad who have marked the history of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay are playing in the same team at the Waimakariri United football club. Kaiapoi, north of Christchurch.
Gabi Rennie, a 17-year-old student at Rangiora High School, and 16-year-old Macey Fraser and 16-year-old Jayda Stewart of Papanui High School will face the champion of Europe, Spain, in half-time. final tournament on Thursday. No Kiwi team has been further in the event.
HECTOR VIVAS / GETTY IMAGES
Kelli Brown of New Zealand celebrates with Macey Fraser after scoring a goal at FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Uruguay.
Waimakariri United President Owen Hallmark said everyone at the club was "very proud" of the girls and their success on the national team.
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"The [New Zealand] The team goes down in history and challenges the odds. It's really wonderful to see players from our North Canterbury club represent New Zealand on the world stage. "
JONATHAN LEASK / STUFF
North Canterbury, Gabi Rennie and Macey Fraser have been playing for the same club since their first game.
Shane Verma first trained Rennie and Fraser at the National Talent Center in Oamaru about four years ago. For the past two seasons, she has coached the three girls of Waimakariri United's first women's team, a team that made the headlines two years ago after losing a match. 23-0.
Their success proves that you do not need to play for a glamorous club to be recognized, Verma said.
SHANE WENZLICK
Jayda Stewart, a Rangiora teenager, is one of three North Canterbury players playing with New Zealand's U-17 team in Uruguay.
"Waimak United is a small club that has just come out of Christchurch, with three players playing with the best age group players in the world.
"It's great for the club, its teammates and those who are preparing through the club to aspire."
The trio was the kind of players that every coach would want to have at his side, he said.
MATILDE CAMPODONICO / AP
Gabi Rennie in action in the quarter-final against Japan.
"It's the players who arrive early and stay late, they always do a little more and that's what brought them to where they are today."
"It's the attitude of these girls and the self-sacrifice – not just their talent – it's the key factor."
Fraser, who turned 16 in July, is the youngest player on the team and said she was better after the heavy losses of her club.
"It's so crazy.The Waimak is such a small club that sometimes does not compete with the big clubs, so it's so good for us."
She was expecting a battle when the team will face Spain on Thursday for a place in the final.
"I think they're going to be a really tough team, but the girls are all ready to go in. We know we can do it and we have nothing to lose," she said. .
"We are such a close unit off the field and that helps a lot, we believe one in the other and we know we can do it."
His mother, Pam Fraser, said Macey had played his first game for the club at the age of four.
"Ash Maindonald was her first coach and did a great job helping her to imbue the technical skills of the game," she said.
"We are super excited for the girls … they have exceeded all expectations."
Rennie's parents, Gary and Rachel Rennie, and their sons, Liam and Lachlan, are in Uruguay for the tournament.
Gary Rennie said that they were "very proud" of how the girls played and were excited about the upcoming match against Spain.
The family is due to leave on November 30, but if the team qualifies for the final, they will do "all they can" to stay.
"There is a strong belief among [the team] that they belong to the first four and are very focused on the next match [against Spain]. They firmly believe that they can do it. "
Gary Rennie said his daughter has been playing for Waimakariri since his first match, at the age of 5.
"I was her first coach for the first two years and she is a very proud and loyal Waimakariri player," he said.
Rangiora High School principal Karen Stewart said teachers and staff were watching their classmates' progress closely.
"Gabi and Macey are both great girls … so passionate and dedicated to football and all aspects of school life, they support each other, both on and off the field.
"They put a lot of effort into their sport, they know how to overcome chess, how to take advice and they are exceptionally organized."
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