Latest news with #MichaelMayne
RNZ News
04-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Midday Sports News for 4 June 2025
The Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne was pleased with the response of the players after making some personnel changes for this morning's second game against Venezuela, which New Zealand won 2-1 to tie the two match series 1-all. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Football Ferns bounce back with 2-1 win over Venezuela
Photo: Photosport The Football Ferns have bounced back by beating Venezuela 2-1 in their second international friendly in Spain as the side aims to build more competition for starting spots. The South Americans, who are ranked 51st in the world, opened the scoring but New Zealand hit back through Milly Clegg before Jacqui Hand put them ahead in the 73rd minute. Midfielder Katie Kitching was happy with the improved performance from the Football Ferns, who are 32nd in the FIFA rankings. "It was a tough match again they made it hard for us but we stuck to the game plan and came out with the win so really happy about that," Kitching said. "We had lots of positives and lots of things to work on from the first game so we used the time we had off the pitch to work on it go through film work together and hopefully implement it today which we did." Kitching was given the captain's arm band towards the end of the match. "Yeah really special I didn't really expect Flea (Annalie Longo) to give it to me but yeah it was really nice to be captain even for a little bit." Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne was disappointed with his side's 3-1 loss to Venezuela on Sunday and thought some of the individual performances weren't up to scratch. "Obviously made a few changes based on that and I think the players that started the game got us on the front foot," Mayne said. "Our reaction over the last few days to come in, work a little bit harder, be a bit braver with the ball ...we controlled good periods of that game so I'm 100 percent pleased with the reaction." Mayne said building competition within the squad was important. "I trusted the group that there was players that wanted to step in and have the opportunity so there's a number of players there that have done the work the last couple of days to I guess answer some questions I had in my head so they've trained really well, they've recovered really well. "I think that was the biggest difference, is that competition, if a player doesn't perform there's going to be someone waiting in this team now ready to take their spot and so I just think that drives the performance so that's been the biggest shift." Mayne, who is settling in after his appointment to lead the team for the 2027 World Cup, said they were getting a lot out of their tours. "I'm working the players pretty hard, these tours ... we're looking at different ways to work, there's a number of things we trialled this tour around our trainings and structure so the players are responding to that ...the buy-in has been top class."
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Football Ferns 'nowhere near' the required level in loss to Venezuela, coach says
While Annalie Longo has signed off as Wellington Phoenix captain she played for the Football Ferns in this morning's 3-1 loss to Venezuela. Photo: Photosport Football Ferns coach Michael Mayne isn't ruling out benching his starting players for the next international match after a comprehensive 3-1 loss to Venezuela in Spain. The Ferns were behind 2-1 at halftime on Sunday morning in the first of two games against the South Americans, with Venezuela sealing the result in the 86th minute with their third strike. "There are some questions for me to answer about some individual performances and how they help the team," Mayne said. "There are some pretty motivated players and hungry players who want to have an impact in this next game. "We need to learn very quickly and the team that takes the field on Wednesday, we need to make sure that we react very positively in that game and look for the result that we need." Having been named full-time coach just last week, Mayne admits they weren't at their best, with a host of problems in defence. "To concede three goals like we did, all very similar goals, we were nowhere near the level we needed to be at in and around our box," Mayne said. Mayne is settling in after his appointment to lead the team for the Women's World Cup 2027 cycle. Looking ahead to the second game, Mayne stressed the importance of learning quickly and bouncing back. "We're a senior international team and need to perform despite being early in the cycle," Mayne said. "I felt we were one or two touches away from really opening them up. "I don't think it was all doom and gloom but we're working on a new system. "The way we tried to press, and that's where our goal came from, worked really well." Katie Kitching equalised for the Ferns after Venezuela opened the scoring in the 25th minute through Deyna Castellanos. The South Americans responded quickly, regaining the lead just before halftime with Mariana Romero finishing an attack down the right-hand side, assisted by Gabriela García. Despite the positive momentum, Venezuela extended their lead in the 86th minute with a long-range strike from Malanie Chirinos. Ferns midfielder Betsy Hassett marked a special milestone as she played again at the international level for the first time since giving birth to a daughter last September. The 34-year-old campaigner initially returned to her club in Iceland just months after becoming a mother. The Football Ferns will take on Venezuela again early on Wednesday morning. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
31-05-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Football Fern Betsy Hassett makes international return a family affair
FOR SATURDAY AFTERNOON PLEASE [wh] Football Fern Hassett makes international return a family affair Betsy Hassett wasn't expecting a national team call-up so soon after the birth of son Nói, Photo: Colombia Football Federatiion Nine months after the birth of her first child, midfielder Betsy Hassett is surprised to be back in the Football Ferns with the potential to add to her 157 caps for New Zealand. Hassett is one of five changes new head coach Michael Mayne has made for two games against world No. 51 Venezuela in Spain. The first game is at 4am Sunday (NZT). Playing semi-professional club football for Icelandic Premier Division club Stjarnan, a club she has been with since 2020, Hassett said, despite being in contact with Mayne since late last year, she was not expecting a call-up for this tour. All her club games were filmed, so Mayne knew what kind of form she was in, before he brought her into the squad. "I'm physically and mentally back, and I'm ready to go," Hassett, 34, said. Her return means she is joined by son Nói and partner Gummi on this tour. They are staying in an apartment in Spain, around the corner from the team hotel. When Hassett first played for the Football Ferns as a teenager, goalkeeper Jenny Bindon was the only mum in the team. Bindon is now a Football Ferns assistant coach and son Tyler is an All White . "That was a big inspiration for me back then, but I was not even thinking about [motherhood], I was so young back then," Hassett said. Former Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon now has a son in the All Whites. Photo: Photosport Not every Football Ferns mum has found the balance possible. "There's been Hayley Bowden and she came back for maybe one tour, but it was a bit difficult," Hassett said of the midfielder who retired in 2015. "There was not really set-up for babies and family, so she had to give it up," "That's why I'm going to give it a go. Times are changing now, so it's really cool that this is actually a possible thing to do now." Re-joining the Football Ferns has meant getting introduced to the newbies and reacquainted with those players whom Hassett has played many games with. "There's definitely some new faces in the team, now I've been out for just over a year, so really enjoying getting to know a couple of girls I've never even met before," she said. "Then, of course, coming back in and meeting up with the likes of Stotty [Rebekah Stott] and Flea [Annalie Longo] and Ally Green and the older ones that I'm used to playing with has been amazing, and especially for them to just get to meet my little new son." Football Ferns line up to face Colombia. Photo: photosport After playing college football in California, Hassett has played club football around the world in Germany, England, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland and Wellington. The long Icelandic winters take some getting used to as a footballer, when training conditions can be "tough". "It's coming into summer, so it's getting brighter there very quickly. The days are really long and I'm looking forward to the summer, because it can be really long winters there. "It's nice to go away for a little break in the middle of the winter sometimes, just to get away and see some sun. It's actually really nice to have training in the winter, because it's something that makes you feel better. "Get out and run around and see your mates, instead of just being inside and in the dark all day." The Football Ferns' games against Venezuela will be the first time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level. "It's going to be a good challenge," Hassett said. "I think they'll be a really good team, strong team, so we're doing everything we can, and we're looking good and heading into the game so far. "Really excited to see what we can do." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Michael Mayne confirmed as Football Ferns' new head coach
Michael Mayne has been confirmed as the Football Ferns' new head coach becoming their first New Zealand-born coach in more than 20 years. Mayne has been the interim coach since last year and has signed on to the permanent role through to the 2027 Women's World Cup. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
