FIFA Women’s World Cup: Jacinda Ardern surprises Football Ferns at training

The Football Ferns had a surprise waiting for them when they arrived at their FIFA Women’s World Cup training base last Thursday evening.

Former prime minister Dame Jacinda Ardern was at Keith Hay Park to offer a few words of wisdom ahead of their tournament opener against Norway this coming Thursday at Eden Park in Auckland.

Ferns forward Gabi Rennie said the team had been warming up at the suburban venue when they heard a few murmurs, then looked over to the entrance and saw the iconic leader paying them a visit.

“We were all pretty excited about that. She came in and had a wee chat to us.

“She’s a very cool person. She’s got a lot of wisdom about dealing with pressure, so it was cool to hear from her.”

Coach Jitka Klimková was in on the plans: “I knew she was coming, but the players didn’t know”.

“It was tough because it was in the middle of the session, but I know how much she means to the players.

“It was not ideal timing, but I know the bigger outcome – to have her involved and have her saying good luck to our team – is something special.”

Ardern brought her five-year-old daughter Neve – a budding football player – along for the visit.

“So she was sharing that about [Neve] and how we are inspiring her,” Klimková said. “Then of course she just wished us good luck and was saying that the enjoyment is part of this journey.”

Ardern’s star power was believed to have been helpful in helping New Zealand and Australia secure the votes they needed to beat Colombia for the World Cup hosting rights back in June 2020.

And Thursday’s visit wasn’t Rennie’s first meeting with Ardern.

When she was part of the New Zealand team that went on a history-making run and finished third at the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay, the then-PM sent through a message of support.

After they returned home to Auckland with bronze medals around their necks, Rennie and some of her team-mates then bumped into Ardern while they were waiting for their connecting flight onwards to Christchurch.

“We saw her in the airport and we were feeling very confident, so we yelled out to her and said hello, and she remembered us and came up and saw us and introduced herself and we got a photo and that was pretty cool.”

“She’s almost a familiar face at this point,” Rennie joked, having also recently learnt of something she and Ardern have in common.

The 22-year-old is currently studying and playing football for Arizona State University in the United States.

On the same day she found out she had made the Ferns’ World Cup squad, Rennie was asked by Stuff if she knew which famous New Zealander had once spent a semester studying there.

She had no idea and her mind was blown when she was told that Ardern had done just that in 2001: “It’s so crazy to me”.

Ferns co-captain Ria Percival had also met Ardern previously, during an event marking one year until the World Cup last July in London, where she plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Women’s Super League.

“It was a nice surprise having her pop down to training and engage with us all.

“She’s obviously a great woman and she supports female sports.

“She’s going to be coming to games and for her to come down the other night, it was a warm welcome.”

Football Ferns – FIFA Women’s World Cup

Squad

Goalkeepers: Victoria Esson, Anna Leat, Erin Nayler

Defenders: Liz Anton, CJ Bott, Katie Bowen, Claudia Bunge, Michaela Foster, Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott

Midfielders: Olivia Chance, Daisy Cleverley, Betsy Hassett, Annalie Longo, Ria Percival, Malia Steinmetz

Forwards: Milly Clegg, Jacqui Hand, Grace Jale, Gabi Rennie, Indiah-Paige Riley, Paige Satchell, Hannah Wilkinson

Fixtures

July 20, 7pm: v Norway; Eden Park, Auckland

July 25, 5.30pm: v Philippines; Wellington Regional Stadium

July 30, 7pm: v Switzerland; Dunedin Stadium