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2007
Fully Focused Sowden Set For International Return
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand women's football team coach John Herdman is more than a bit frustrated by the number of national squad players who are struggling with injury at present.
However, he is keeping an open mind about the situation, as well as a positive outlook, a view embodied by his philosophy that “an injury to one player throws up an opportunity for someone else to stake their claim for further international experience”.
One such player who will be aiming to make the most of the opportunity which New Zealand's home international series against the University of North Carolina and Canada presents is midfield general Rebecca Sowden.
The lively twenty-five-year-old knows full well what the injury side of the equation is like, having struggled for over a year to overcome a nagging knee problem.
But a clean bill of health, coupled with a change of focus in her life, mean New Zealand is set to see the best of the former U-17 and U-19 international, who is keen to add to her five appearances at senior level.
“I was over the moon at being included in the extended squad for the Oceania qualifying tournament in April”, exclaimed Sowden, who last played for New Zealand against Japan two years ago. “It's a huge feeling, particularly after my injury problems.
“It's special for another reason, too. I started seeing a sports psychologist in January, and it's changed my whole outlook and focus completely. I've been exposed to how a professional athlete approaches their job, and it's made me realise how passionate I am about football.
“It's what I want to do more than anything. Consequently, I've negotiated a switch to a part-time role in my marketing job at TVNZ, and I'm already seeing the benefits - I'm playing more consistently, and training with a genuine purpose. I've never been so focused as I am now - it's great!”
Sowden and her team-mates will need to be well and truly focused over the next couple of weeks, given they're up against two of the world's foremost women's football teams.
Canada, who New Zealand plays twice in four days in a week's time, were beaten semi-finalists at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals in the USA, and Sowden was able to watch their progress more closely than most, given she was studying in America at the time.
“They were a bit of a shock team that year, as they'd never got past the first round in previous finals. But Charmaine Hooper was a real star in what was a class side, which ultimately finished fourth”.
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While completing her scholarship at The College of William & Mary, Sowden had a few run-ins with New Zealand's first opponents in this international series, and the current NCAA champions were every bit as tough to beat then as they are now.
“At William & Mary, we were ranked among the top fifteen colleges in the USA, and come NCAA draw time, our squad would all go round to our coach's house to watch the draw live on TV - it's a really big deal over there.
“Almost without fail, we'd draw UNC in either the first or second round. We were quite a good team, but they were another level above us, and try as we might, we'd never get the better of them.
“So I'm very much looking forward to this game, albeit with mixed emotions. It's exciting to think we're playing the next generation of US stars, but at the same time knowing we're in for a heck of a game - they'll be a big challenge, make no mistake!”
UNC's coach, Anson Dorrance, steered the USA to FIFA Women's World Cup glory in the inaugural competition in 1991. Five years later, his coaching video came out, and Sowden remembers sitting at home watching it.
“I couldn't get over the environment he generated in his training sessions. He creates a very strong competitive mentality in his teams, and that's been a contributing factor to why UNC have been at or near the top of the pile on the NCAA scene for so long.
“I'm thrilled that we've got the chance to play an Anson Dorrance-coached team in New Zealand. After nearly a decade without any games on home turf, what could be better than to play against top international opposition with local support right behind you?”
Sowden's enthusiasm in relation to these matches, and the two-week camp upon which the New Zealand squad is about to embark, is as infectious as it is genuine. And with Women's World Cup Finals squad places up for grabs, there are no prizes for guessing what she has her sights set on.
“If I get in there, do well and keep improving … who knows? Right now, though, I'm looking forward to bringing the things I've learnt over the last couple of months to life in a competitive environment, while being exposed to such world-class teams as those we're hosting over the next fortnight.
“It's my intention to glean as much as I can from these games and, if selected, take those lessons on to the Australian tour in July, the US tour in August, and, ultimately, against Brazil, Denmark and host nation China, in our group during September's Women's World Cup Finals”.
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