Rebecca Lake (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Irakehu) has been named in the New Zealand Secondary School Under 16 representative football team, to tour Thailand in July.
Rebecca, the daughter of Tony and Sara Lake of Kaiapoi, has been selected in a squad of 18 players and is one of two students from Canterbury. The team will undertake a tour of Thailand in July, including games against the Thai national team. The tour is envisaged as a development step for players in the build-up to the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan 2016.
All but four of the current Football Ferns started their international pathway to football success with New Zealand Secondary School Girls’ football and the tour to Thailand is expected to give the girls valuable playing experience and an insight into Asian- style football. (Japan are the current world champions). It will also introduce them to the pressures of touring and the test of playing in hot conditions.
Rebecca, a Year 10 pupil at Marian College in Christchurch, is looking forward to being challenged physically, mentally and culturally. She is committed to both her school-work and her sports and is a positive role model for young Māori. She trains every day of the week and carries that through to weekend games. She represents Marian College in the 1st XI school football team and also plays Waimakariri club football, for North Canterbury representative teams. In addition, she manages to fit in school basketball, touch, futsal (an indoor version of association football) and two nights of football training at the Federation Talent Centre. She has also represented her school in the South Island secondary schools athletics championships.
Rebecca is keen to give back to her community, especially through mentoring or training others in football.
“I believe it’s important to give service to the community and I already help my younger brother’s football team,” she says.
Rebecca Lake on the field.