The Wanderers Westfield W-League squad has been paid a huge compliment with the Chinese Women’s National Team inviting them to play in a friendly at the QSAC in Brisbane on Sunday.
It comes at an ideal time for head coach Dean Heffernan’s squad as they will have a bye this weekend following their comprehensive 4-0 win over Canberra United in Canberra on Boxing Day.
The Red & Black, unbeaten after the opening seven rounds, are top of the table and are enjoying their best season in the W-League. With 16 points from a possible 18, they are well on course for a history-making first appearance in the Finals.
Given the space between games (16 days), the Wanderers will take the opportunity to have a four day camp on the Gold Coast to prepare for the game against the Chinese as well as keeping the ball rolling for their Westfield W-League campaign.
Heffernan expects a good contest against China, who are ranked no. 15 in the FIFA World Rankings and is looking forward to a solid test against a quality national team.
“It is a great accolade for us that the Chinese want to come to Australia to play games in Australia, and specifically to play us,” said Heffernan.
“Given we have a bye this weekend, it is a terrific opportunity for us to get some solid work in so we can keep up the momentum. It is a sort of mini pre-season for us.
“As well, it gives us even more time to be together and be a unit.
“We certainly embraced that over the Christmas period when we had to travel to Canberra on Christmas Day. We allowed the girls to have their families there at the team hotel and to share the meals with us.”
Heffernan said he will use the camp and the game to try out “a few different things”, especially given that star striker Lynn Williams will be away on a training camp with the US national team.
“I want to work on a few different combinations,” added Heffernan.
“We won’t have Lynn Williams so that will be an opportunity for someone to step up.”
The Wanderers next Westfield W-League game is against Brisbane Roar at Marconi Stadium on 12 January.
