The daughter of All Blacks coach Ian Foster is among four players to sign scholarship deals with the Wellington Phoenix ahead of the women's A-League season.
Michaela Foster, daughter of All Blacks coach Ian Foster has signed with the Phoenix. Photo: David Rowland/Photosport
Michaela Foster, 23, is a former New Zealand age-group international who captained the Young Football Ferns at the under-17 FIFA women's World Cup in Jordan in 2016.
Originally from Waikato, Foster plays for Northern Rovers in the national women's league and has been lauded for her versatility by Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence.
"Mickey's somebody we've been keeping an eye on for the last year or so," Lawrence said.
"She came in and played some games for us up in Auckland, and every weekend I'm watching national league games and she's been a consistent performer throughout the season.
"She can play any position on the field, she can use both feet and she was the captain of the New Zealand under-17 women's team so she understands high performance."
Foster and Georgia Candy are newcomers to the Phoenix while the two other signings, Te Reremoana Walker and Charlotte Lancaster, were part of the club's inaugural squad.
Lawrence was pleased to be able to offer more young New Zealanders the chance to play professional football.
"For us to be able to bring in more Kiwis and give them that taste of professional football and what it might look and feel like at training, and the different intensity level of the game is only going to help them kick on," Lawrence said.
"There will be opportunities for all the players in the squad, including scholarship players, to put their hands up to be in the team."
The four scholarship players take the Phoenix women's squad to 20, with two potential spots to be filled.
They are in their first week of pre-season training, with their opening round match scheduled for November 20, against Melbourne City in Wellington.
-RNZ