Uzunlar impressed with Football NSW facilities

Servet Uzunlar will compete in her second FIFA Women’s World Cup next month in Canada as Football NSW caught up with her preparations at their recent training camp at Valentine Football Park.

An impressed Uzunlar spoke about the new facilities at redeveloped “Home of Football” at Valentine Sports Park.

“It’s great, the pitches are new which is fantastic and Football NSW has been excellent.

“The food and accommodation have also been good with the whole squad able to stay at the complex.”

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup only a few weeks away, the Matildas are deep into preparations for the tournament.

“It’s going good and it’s been the most intense preparations I’ve ever been involved in.

“There have been a lot of camps, we had the Cyprus Cup and we went on a tour after that.

“We were away for seven weeks and it’s a long time to be out of the country but it was good.”

The Matildas midfield stated that these tournaments can have unusual results and that even if you aren’t playing the best, you can have success.

“World Cups are a funny thing, you can play great football and get knocked out or play mediocre football and have a bit of luck and get through.”

Uzunlar believes in the strength of the team and views them as a real contender for the Cup.

“I think we’re good enough to find ourselves in the semi-finals.

“We’re just focusing on the first game and good performances.”

Female Football Week in NSW is in full swing and Uzunlar believes the extra emphasis on the female game is important.

“It’s great to put an emphasis on girls and focus on them.

“It’s also awesome that we’re here at the same time to be a part of it giving the girls an opportunity to see us and meet us.

She applauded the system at Football NSW and the Institute that have given young girls the opportunity to train and compete within the state’s top competition. 

Uzunlar has also played for the likes of Inter Lions as well as being involved in the women’s F-League competition with the Inner West Magic and Sydney Scorpions.

“It’s good to get the girls at a young age and developing them that way.

“Giving the girls the opportunity to play against older players is really good and beneficial for them.”

-By Nikola Pozder