CommBank ParaMatildas Interim Head Coach Alicia Ferguson said that it was an exciting experience to lead the team for the very first time last week.
She was speaking to Football Australia Media during the squad’s training camp in June. It was the first time the team had been together since lifting the IFCPF Women’s World Cup trophy last year.
Ferguson is a former Matilda and was previously involved with the ParaMatildas squad in the lead up to the World Cup last year.
“I met the ParaMatildas before they went off to the World Cup in their pre-departure camp, so to see them come back as world champions, and then to get the opportunity to work with this group of players, it was a great experience,” she said.
“I was a bit nervous coming in for the first session, getting to know each other, but the first session is out of the way, and I’ve been really impressed. Some nice combination play in there, and the sun is shining.
“There are some good things that I think we can continue building on, because they've had such a solid foundation already.”
She explained the importance of building a solid foundation in and out of the squad itself.
“A big one for us is actually building and developing the talent pool as well,” she said.
“A big thing about having a high-performance program is maintaining competition, and that's not just playing international competition, but competition for places within the squad and building a pathway for younger players who can see that they can represent Australia for the ParaMatildas.
“Going from an eleven-a-side version of football to five-a-side, there are some different patterns of play that we will bring in, but all really positive.”
Part of that is building the programs that will grow the next generation of ParaMatildas across the country.
“We've had amazing support from member federations,” she expressed.
“Football New South Wales helping us out here for this weekend has been incredible. I'm going over to Perth to go and visit programs over there, Football Victoria [has been involved] as well. So we just want to get the word out.
“We want to set up these programs. We want to identify athletes, and give them the visibility of what the pathway is for them to represent Australia and the ParaMatildas.
“It’s a really exciting time for the current world champions, because now they're the legacy. They're the role models, and they're the ones that the younger players can look up to. We've seen how powerful it is with the Matildas. For the ParaMatildas to be at the pinnacle, to be the world champions, I think the future's really bright.”
She explained that the team also took their obligations to the international game seriously.
“A huge goal for us is to reinstate CP football into the 2032 Brisbane Olympics,” she said.
“They've never been in as a female program. So that's what we're gearing towards. But we need to develop the game internationally. We need to develop other countries as well.
“We're a big part of that as champions. We take that responsibility seriously, so we're working hard to do that domestically, but a big part is to improve the international competition – so that they've got no choice but to include us in 2032.”