SOCCER - Erceg sets sights on pro career

These days Abby Erceg may be flipping burgers for cash but it seems only a matter of time until the Whangarei kid becomes an internationally renowned football player.
Erceg was named the Young Women's Player of the Year at the annual New Zealand Football awards dinner in Auckland last Monday, after she excelled at the FIFA Women's World Cup in China this year.
She gained prominence as a member of the Kiwi under-20 World Cup squad in Russia last year, which managed a sensational draw with Brazil.
It was a big achievement for the 18-year-old former FC Whangarei player, who now lives in Auckland.
"Russia was awesome - but China was even better, your first World Cup is always going to be the most memorable. It was sweet to feel like you've made it already, by getting to a world championships in any sport," Erceg said.
"I was competing for the award with my best friend Ria (Percival) and another good friend Annalie Longo and it could have gone to any of us. We all went to the World Cup and we all played - how they chose me for the prize is beyond me." she said.
Erceg also made the short list of nominees for the Women's Player of the Year award, although she was beaten to that prize by her captain Rebecca Smith.
She was happy enough with her prize which she described as a perfect birthday gift and is looking forward to her career flourishing further - as a professional football player.
While New Zealand's men have always been well paid, the women's team - although a lot more successful than their male counterparts in international competition - have always been cheerful amateurs but there are signs that is now beginning to change.
"(Working at) Wendy's will hopefully provide me with the money I need for Christmas presents but it looks as though things might be changing a bit at New Zealand Football - it looks like I might have come to the sport at the right time," Erceg said.
Up until now NZF has been able to help out its female players with scholarships but Erceg wants to play fulltime.
"I thought about college a little while ago but school's not really my thing, I'd rather just go somewhere and focus totally on soccer," she said.
Her first preference is a European professional club, or secondly an American club.
"Of course I want to go over and play pro or semi-pro, who doesn't want to immerse themselves in the sport they love," she said.
John Herdman coached Erceg in both the under-20 team and the World Cup squad and is convinced Erceg can make it as a professional player.
"We don't take the decision to pull youth players into the national team lightly but Abby has made the transition easily, because she's got so much to offer in terms of physical presence, confidence and she's starting to develop as a technician as well," he said.
"If we get to the Olympics, then Abby will have been to four pinnacle events over two years - an amazing achievement for an under-18 girl and if she's lucky she'll be one of the first ever players to achieve that," he said.