Football Queensland (FQ) can today reveal the 25 players selected in the combined NPL All-Stars and Queensland State Team Women’s squad for the Kappa Festival of Football.
Drawn from the state’s top-tier National Premier Leagues (NPL) Queensland Women’s competition, the squad will take on Brisbane Roar’s Westfield W-League side at Dolphin Stadium on 5 December before facing New South Wales at Perry Park on 12 December.
Both matches will be played as part of double-headers involving the combined NPL All-Stars and Queensland State Team Men’s squad.
FQ has selected a 25-strong squad in recognition of the fact that some players have advised their participation is limited to one match and to provide adequate coverage for any other factors, including injuries, which may impact availability throughout the Kappa Festival of Football.
From this group, Head Coach Alex Bundalo and his support staff will have the opportunity to select 18-player match day squads for the December 5 and 12 games.
Bundalo, who guided Gold Coast United to the NPL Women’s Premiership this season, said: “We are renowned in Queensland for producing and having talent and, with the right coaching, we certainly have the team and the players to beat the opponents.
“That will be the objective. I’m looking forward to the challenge. We’ve had a few players come up to the NPL Queensland from Victoria this season because of their situation, and I’ve had some of those players at Gold Coast United.
“What I’ve heard from them is that our players play a technical game and are good players. In Queensland, we want to produce those technically good players. It will be interesting to see how we go but I think, without any doubt, we will hold our own and play some attractive football.
“That’s my belief.”
The combined NPL All-Stars and Queensland State Team Women’s squad is scheduled to train together on four occasions across the two weeks following this weekend’s Football Queensland Premier League (FQPL) and NPL Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals, which mark the official beginning of the Kappa Festival of Football.
Full details, including tickets and hospitality packages, can be found on footballqueensland.com.au/festival-of-football.
NPL ALL-STARS / QUEENSLAND STATE TEAM WOMEN’S SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Keeley Richards (Logan Lightning), Cassandra Zaffina (Gold Coast United)
Defenders: Cannon Clough (Lions FC), Zoe Corbett (Gold Coast United), Harkana Dixon (Eastern Suburbs), April Gleeson (Logan Lightning), Lauren Spreadborough (Logan Lightning), Teagan Thompson (Capalaba FC), Danielle Ward (Gap FC), Natasha Wheeler (Capalaba FC)
Midfielders: Amy Chapman (Capalaba FC), Charlotte Farmer (Gold Coast United), Laini Freier (Gap FC), Rie Kitano (Gold Coast United), Steph Latham (Capalaba FC), Madison Moy (Mitchelton FC), Natalie Tathem (Capalaba FC)
Attackers: Georgina Amos (Eastern Suburbs), Shea Connors (Logan Lightning), Amy Gunston (Lions FC), Isabella Habuda (Gold Coast United), Abbey Lloyd (SWQ Thunder), Sofie Persson (Mitchelton FC), Tegan Riding (Lions FC), Harriet Withers (Souths United)
