The five members of the Maori Hill Ferns 12th grade team are set to be flag bearers at the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off in Dunedin tomorrow.
Olivia McIntyre, Ava Couling, Alice Ussher, Sophie Devereux and Amelia Smith are set to be flag bearers in three games taking place at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The first match will have Switzerland taking on the Philippines, while next Wednesday Japan meets Costa Rica. On July 30, the New Zealand Football Ferns will play Switzerland in front of what is expected to be a large crowd.
The five Maori Hill players are naturally looking forward to the big occasion and will have plenty of time to get ready.
‘‘We have to be there five and a-half hours before kick-off,’’ Olivia said.
In what is something of a military operation, they have to wear a certain type of gear — supplied by a German sporting apparel company — and have specific instructions on what their role entails.
Flag bearers manage the flags that go on to the pitch and into the crowd and are also part of the pre-match presentation.
In the matches, big flags of the two competing countries are marched on to the field before the game kicks off and are then taken off the ground.
The girls will get to watch the matches in a designated area. Apart from a day off school they are very much looking forward to the tournament and being part of the event.
‘‘It is going to be exciting getting up close to the players and watching all the games,’’ Olivia said.
And who is going to win the tournament?
‘‘New Zealand,’’ was the answer.
But in reality the United States had to be the favourite, the girls said.
