John Herdman

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John Herdman

Herdman Embraces “A Massive Responsibility”

by Jeremy Ruane

The man who worked the oracle with the New Zealand U-20 Women's squad last year has had an eleventh hour call-up to repeat the feat with the nation's leading female footballers.

John Herdman has stepped into the breach following the resignation of Allan Jones (see separate story) and has been entrusted with guiding the fortunes of the New Zealand women's squad to the end of their 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign.

“How do I describe the top job? … It's a massive responsibility”, declared the Geordie of his appointment to a role he temporarily held last November, when he was entrusted with overseeing the two-match tour of China.

“It's a job which means a lot to women's football and the future of the game as a whole”, he continued. “It entails a massive amount of energy, commitment, opportunity and huge responsibility for the players, given the outcomes targeted this year”.

Reaching the Women's World Cup Finals for the first time since 1991 will have significant benefits for the host nation of the inaugural U-17 version of the event next year (see separate stories), but for now, Herdman is looking no further forward than this month's qualifying tournament.

“Papua New Guinea is the focus. That's phase one of the strategy which is in place to take us through to the Finals, but there's a job to be done first - qualifying for them.

“Realistically, we are capable of doing that job, and getting the team to come together as one to do that job is one of my objectives. External factors, such as the environment we'll be in, the quality of pitches and refereeing, are things we can't control, but we'll certainly be looking to control those things that we can”.

So late in the piece did Herdman take on his new role that he was faced with having to name a twenty-strong squad within five days of being appointed, despite not having even seen some of the contenders for that squad in a match environment, given his commitments last year with the U-20s and, latterly, the U-18 Development Squad.

A trial match against the Kristin College first eleven boys squad was quickly arranged, and with the assistance of Ricki Herbert, Herdman rant the rule over as many players as possible. Both men were well pleased with the momentum, intensity and overall quality of the girls' display in their deserved 2-0 victory.

It was a performance which saw the squad effectively carry on from where they left off against Australia five weeks earlier on Waitangi Day, only this time they got the rewards their efforts merited through goals from Hayley Moorwood and Emma Kete.

“It was always going to be a hard job naming a squad, especially under such circumstances”, reflected Herdman. “But I've settled on a group of players I

consider is more than capable of performing and realising our objectives at this tournament.

“For some of those chosen, it's an opportunity for them, and I'm hoping they go on and take it. I'm not afraid to give young players a go. These kids can actually play. We've got a group of emerging players who, in time, can cope and play at that level, and I'm keen to encourage them to believe in themselves and do so.

“Take Abby Erceg and Ria Percival, for instance. Prior to China, they weren't in the frame for the senior squad, yet they were the best-performed players in Australia. Merissa Smith, with the U-20s last year, is another prime example - she wasn't in the frame to begin with, but how can you not pick someone if they stand out game after game?

“It's a good investment for the game, and something I'll continue to do. Because in international football, the door is always open. It's up to players to keep working hard and do what's required to catch our attention, because we'll never stop looking”.

Taking on the top coaching job in New Zealand women's football has meant a shuffling of the deckchairs in the NZS Technical Department, given Herdman's existing roles.

“We've got some strategies in place to cover all the roles, and ensure we don't foreshorten any other areas”, says NZS's Coach Education Manager. “After PNG, for instance, the U-20s will combine with the senior squad, which is a smart move to make until such time as the game grows to accommodate separate squads.

“Looking towards the Women's World Cup Finals and beyond, the key will be to lay strong foundations for cohesive units, and utilise the strengths of the players. You can say it and you can live it, and living it is a huge task”.

As is the immediate task at hand for Herdman and the New Zealand women's squad. PNG is the focus. China is but one of the rewards.

2007 Oceania WWC Qualifying Series