A New Chapter for the Matildas in Africa
Coach Joe Montemurro has expressed his excitement about the Matildas’ upcoming match against Kenya, highlighting the significance of this encounter as a chance to engage with what he calls the “big sleeping giant” of African women’s football. The Australian team is set to face Kenya in the final of their FIFA series in Nairobi, where they will play in front of an anticipated crowd of 20,000 fans.
The Matildas bounced back from their recent defeat in the Asian Cup final by starting their African tour with a convincing 5-0 victory over Malawi. This match was notable for Sam Kerr, who scored her 74th international goal, and for Leticia McKenna, who netted her first international goal as a debutant.
Building Momentum
The win against Malawi was a strong start for the Matildas, with goals from Emily van Egmond, Alex Chidiac, and Holly McNamara. This performance came three weeks after their loss to Japan in the Asian Cup final. Montemurro emphasized the importance of this trip as a preparation for the World Cup in Brazil next year.
“We’re here to simulate difficult conditions, to simulate hostile crowds, to simulate different things that we don’t get in Asia or in Australia,” Montemurro said. “We don’t get to play a lot of African teams, so it was very important for us to play our football against a very unpredictable side, and a team that had some very good talent.”
A Test Against Kenya
Montemurro is particularly looking forward to the challenge posed by Kenya, who have been buoyed by their 2-0 victory over India. He believes that the Kenyan team and the passionate crowd of 18,000 to 20,000 people will provide a significant test for the Matildas.
“For me, African women’s football is the big sleeping giant,” he said. “There’s a lot of talent. I’ve coached a lot of African players in my clubs in Europe, and the talent is incredible, it’s now all about infrastructure and processes and organisation.”
He also highlighted the potential for growth in African women’s football, stating that the Matildas are playing a part in a soccer revolution. “We want to be able to help the game grow. Because by seeing what other clubs do and what other organisations do and what other federations do, we all grow together. There’s massive opportunities.”
A Special Day for Leticia McKenna
The match against Malawi was a memorable one for 23-year-old Leticia McKenna, the Melbourne City midfielder. She described the experience as surreal and noted that she felt numb when she scored on her international debut.
“I went a bit numb when I scored. I just smiled. It was incredibly special to do that on debut,” said McKenna. “Everyone just got around me straight away afterwards, congratulating me, and welcoming me into the Matildas’ family.”
McKenna expressed her gratitude to her teammates, saying, “I can’t thank them enough. Every single one of them came up to me straight away, and that’s something I’ll cherish for a long time.”
