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Netherlands hoping to inspire women and girls during BOP stay
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand kicks off in Auckland this evening, with our Football Ferns facing Norway in front of an expected record crowd at Eden Park.
The Bay of Plenty is also playing a role in the largest women’s sporting event in the world, with the pleasure of hosting 2019 runners-up the Netherland for the duration of their stay in Aotearoa.
The Oranje Leeuwinnen - or Orange Lionesses – have set up their training camp under the shadow of Mauao at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
The Dutch team were welcomed on the ground, best known as a hub for international cricket, with a pōhiri by Tūtara Kauika ki Rangataua and a performance by Te Kura o Matapihi yesterday, on the eve of the competition opener.
Over 500 fans also turned out to witness head coach Andries Jonker put the squad through their paces in their first training session ahead of their opening fixture against Portugal in Dunedin/Ōtepoti on Sunday.
Netherlands attacker Lieke Martens spoke at the event, explaining her gratitude for the local support and hopes of inspiring women and girls throughout the tournament.
"We feel really welcome here and the people have been really kind - it's such a nice country and so many people came out also today, which was amazing,” said the winger, who has played 144 times for her country.
"We need that too - we want to feel the Dutch people here in New Zealand are here to help us and support us.
“This World Cup is going to change a lot for young girls and the whole environment,” she said, with some sage advice for young girls watching.
"Have fun, enjoy doing things that you love and be free."
Fans from across the rohe, and several Sport Bay of Plenty team members, watched Lieke and her teammates in action. Many were also decked out in traditional team orange on a beautiful day at the picturesque location.
"We're proud to be part of Tauranga hosting,” said attendee Mariken De Vries and her Dutch family. “We're here to show some support. We hope the girls win of course."
A group of players from Ōtūmoetai Football club were inspired by seeing the pros in action.
"It's really cool to see them training at such a high level.
“We liked watching them do their kick-ups, they can do them for so long. We're learning cool tricks. We're going to a few of the games and the ones we're not, we'll watch on TV."
“We liked watching them do their kick-ups, they can do them for so long. We're learning cool tricks. We're going to a few of the games and the ones we're not, we'll watch on TV."
Sport BOP's Women and Girls Lead, Melanie Giles, is excited about the start of the competition and what it might mean for the region.
“The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 being hosted in Aotearoa gives girls and women the chance to see some of the world’s leading female athletes in our own backyard and highlights the incredible advancements being made in women’s sport and physical activity space and serves as a positive inspiration to wāhine across Aotearoa.
“Having the Netherlands training here in Tauranga is a big boost to locals, connections with the Dutch community and a huge buzz for the local football clubs and wider sports as we celebrate a major international event within Aotearoa. You can see already how their presence has been a huge boost for the young girls in attendance today at the open training session at The Bay Oval.
“Fingers crossed the Oranje Leeuwinnen have a successful tournament, as well as our own Football Ferns, who kick off tonight for the opening match at Eden Park, let’s get in behind and support the teams!"
The Netherlands team take on Portugal, reigning champions USA and Vietnam in their Group E fixtures across Dunedin and Wellington/Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Sport BOP is adopting the Dutch as our official second team for the competition.
Kom op Nederland!
