World cup dream

SIMON WATTS

BEST FOOT FORWARD: Stephanie Skilton left New Zealand on Friday to compete in the Fifa under-17 Women's World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

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SHE FOUND her passion for football watching her older sister from the sideline.

Stephanie Skilton is now 16 and has surpassed her sister and many of her peers and this week will land in Trinidad and Tobago as part of New Zealand's team to the Fifa under-17 Women's World Cup.

"It's still really surreal," the Papakura High School student said before flying out last Friday.

"It feels like it's not until next year so it's still just kicking in. I'm ready though and it's really exciting."

Stephanie first started kicking around a ball at the tender age of four.

Today she's a member of the Three Kings United club, made her debut with the New Zealand under-17s this year against Papua New Guinea and already has three international matches under her belt, including games against Tonga and Korea.

"I had been in the squad for a while but it's pretty big when you get named in the starting line-up," she says.

"I know making the starting line-up comes down to attitude both on and off the field. You've got to stick to your fitness plans and you have to do it well.

"No fast food at all," she says.

"It's tough at times but it's my dream so I like it."

She's got big plans for her career in football. Once she's back from the world cup, she's got her eye on moving on to the under-20s national team and eventually the Football Ferns.

Stephanie is part of a 20-girl squad that left for the prestigious tournament on Friday and which is set to take on a total of 15 international teams.

She's excited at the prospect of staying in the twin-island republic which is the smallest country to host a Fifa World Cup tournament.

It has a population of just 1.2 million.

- © Fairfax NZ News