Two young local women are set to play for the New Zealand Maori Women’s Football team as they take on the Indigenous Australian Women’s side in an inaugural test series.
Former Botany Downs Secondary School student Steph Trowill has been named in the team alongside Year 13 St Kentigern student Brooke Wylie.
Trowill, of Ngati Ranginui, says she’s nervous about the match, which will be her second international fixture — and the first since suffering a crippling foot injury in 2014, forcing her out of action until last year.
But overriding the nerves is a happiness to be back on the pitch.
“As soon as I had surgery, they [doctors] said you might not come back from this.
“It’s amazing just to do what I love again.”
It’s her first time playing in the New Zealand Maori Women’s team and in between getting to know each other, the team is busy getting their fitness up to scratch before the weekend match.
The Trans-Tasman clash is at McLennan Park in Papakura this Saturday.
