Canadian under-17 soccer player Tiffany Cameron at training held at McFetridge Park Northcoate. Photo / Dean Purcell
Tiffany Cameron's golden boot claimed Canada's place in Fifa's Under-17 Women's World Cup. Now the Ontario striker wants to help her team go all the way in the championship which kicks off at North Harbour Stadium next Tuesday.
Cameron, who turned 17 virtually as she boarded the flight
Downunder last week, will carry the attacking workload as she has done since her former striking partner Monica Lam-Feist was called into the Canadian under-20 team.
It was Cameron's 32nd-minute goal in the playoff for third against Mexico - their second 1-0 win over the Mexicans at the Concacaf qualifying tournament - that booked their place here. That goal continued her goal-a-game effort at the qualifiers.
Now her sights are set on Tuesday's opening match with New Zealand and beyond that winning the inaugural Fifa tournament.
"We want to win the World Cup," said Cameron. "That is our immediate goal. But we know it won't be easy. Just as we know New Zealand will be a fit, strong and physical side first-up.
"New Zealand are much like us."
Like the hosts, the Canadians have put plenty of emphasis on strength and conditioning in their build-up.
Cameron, who has been playing soccer for about seven years and has dabbled in other sports, including swimming, basketball, volleyball and track and field, said she opted to stay with the national under-17 squad despite being asked to join Lam-Feist in the older age group.
"I guess you could say I now pretty much spearhead our attack," said Cameron. "But that's a role I have played for a long time."
The Canadians have been together for about two years with their sights set on their first trip to New Zealand.
Rated the number one women's sport in her homeland, Cameron says they are ready to play after a solid build-up which culminated in a 4-1 win over an under-15 boys team a day or so before they flew out.
After New Zealand, Canada will play Colombia on November 1 and Denmark in Hamilton three days later.
