Football: Pocket-rocket Paige Satchell off to Cup

Paige Satchell (left), of Rotorua, is off to the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup. She is pictured playing for the Rotorua United women's team last year. Photo/Supplied

Most footballers only dream of representing their country at a Fifa World Cup.

But for Rotorua's Paige Satchell, her dream has come true.

Paige, 15, was recently named in the New Zealand women's under-17 team travelling to Costa Rica next month for the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup.

The young winger will join a squad of 21 players representing New Zealand at the tournament.

Paige said she was stoked to be included in the team and expected a tough challenge in Costa Rica.

"It is going to be hard," she said.

"We want the team to perform well and make an impression over there, and get the results that we want."

The New Zealand team will face opponents Paraguay, Spain and Japan in their pool, with their first game scheduled for March 17.

Paige is one of the smallest players in the New Zealand team but has pace to burn.

Aside from football, the pocket rocket is a strong long-distance runner and has won a New Zealand age-group title in cross country.

She said she would like to start a couple of games at the World Cup next month in her favoured position on the wing.

"It would be nice to start some of the games but we will see how it goes."

In build-up to the Cup this month, the New Zealand team travelled to the United States to play three exhibition matches.

The under-17 side lost all three games against the United States, China and Japan.

"We lost the games but we had our best game against the USA team.

"The score was 2-0 and we played really well as a team," Paige said.

Paige is training with the Rotorua United women's team during the week, and travels to Auckland for national team training on the weekend.

She will leave for Costa Rica on March 10.

The John Paul College student said she was being given plenty of school work to take with her, to ensure she kept up with her classmates.