Jeff Hopkins will full attention | TWG Jeff Hopkins will full attention | TWG

The Westfield Young Matildas go into camp today in preparation for their AFC U19 Women’s Championship 2011 which act as the qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2012 to be held in Uzbekistan.

The camp, held at the Blacktown International Sports Park, runs until Sunday with Westfield Young Matildas head coach Jeff Hopkins putting the players through their paces prior to the six team round robin tournament in Vietnam next month.

The team will have one more training camp on the Gold Coast prior to their Brisbane departure on October 1.

Among the 23 players are FIFA Women’s World Cup stars Caitlin Foord and Teigen Allen who at 16 and 17 years of age respectively bring both a huge amount of talent and experience into the squad.

“I’ve learned a lot this year especially from the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers and I hope I can bring some of my experience and share it with the other girls,” said Caitlin Foord.

“It’s been a huge learning experience playing in the senior team and I think it will help me get the best out of myself at the Championships next month.

“We’ve got a really great team (the U19s) and it will be interesting to see how well we can play together as it’s been a while since we were all out on the pitch together.”

Star midfielder Emily van Egmond will join the squad in Vietnam following her recent signing for Danish Elitedivisionen club Fortuna Hjørring along with fellow Westfield Matildas Elise Kellond-Knight, Kim Carroll and Leena Khamis.

The top three sides from the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship 2011 will progress to next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup which will be held from 18 August – 8 September 2012 in Uzbekistan.

Westfield Young Matildas AFC U-19 Championships Squad Training camp

Blacktown International Sports Park, Blacktown, Sydney

15-18 September 2011

NameClub
Teigen AllenSydney FC
Tara AndrewsNewcastle Jets
Mackenzie ArnoldGold Coast
Nicola BolgerSydney FC
Hannah BrewerNewcastle Jets
Ashley BrownMelbourne Victory
Stephanie CatleyMelbourne Victory
Brianna DaveyMelbourne Victory
Casey DumontBrisbane Roar
Erika ElzeBrisbane Roar
Caitlin FoordSydney FC
Emily GielnikBrisbane Roar
Katrina GorryAdelaide United
Michaela HatzirodosBrisbane Roar
Kahlia HoggCanberra United
Alexandra HuynhNewcastle Jets
Alanna KennedySydney FC
Linda O’NeillSydney FC
Vedrana PopovicBrisbane Roar
Rebekah StottBrisbane Roar
Marianna TabainPerth Glory
Emily van EgmondCanberra United
Brittany WhitfieldSydney

Head Coach: Jeff Hopkins

Team Manager: Jo Fernandes (Chris Conti for Sydney camp)

Assistant Coach: Nicola Williams

Goalkeeper Coach: Paul Jones

Doctor: Rachel Taylor

Physiotherapist: Katrina Staniforth

Equipment/Video: Jo Adams

AFC U19 Women’s Championship

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

6-16 October 2011