World Cup to score for women's game in New Zealand: Steinmetz
Last updated on: 17 May,2023 02:27 pm
Midfielder Malia Steinmetz has learnt the ins and outs of plumbing supplies
Townsville, Australia (Reuters) - With professional opportunities thin on the ground, girls and women chasing dreams of playing soccer for New Zealand tend to develop more skills than running, passing and shooting to make ends meet.
Midfielder Malia Steinmetz has learnt the ins and outs of plumbing supplies, knows her way around a warehouse and worked as a cashier at a grocery while building her international career with New Zealand's "Football Ferns".
Steinmetz and her team mates will be thrust into the global spotlight at the July 20-Aug. 20 Women's World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
But once their tournament is over, many will return to jobs and real-life concerns about how to pay the rent while playing their sport.
"It's kind of hard to be living off it," Steinmetz said.
"Most of the others (team mates) have jobs and have to run off to them after morning training."