NZ Football has taken a significant step in putting the saga of former Football Ferns coach Andreas Heraf behind it.
On Tuesday, CEO Andrew Pragnell and four members of NZF's executive committee met with the team to offer a formal apology, after an independent review substantiated claims by several players of "bullying behaviour" by Heraf, who's since left both the NZ Football and the country.
Perhaps most telling was the presence of Abby Erceg. The Ferns' star defender had refused to play under the Austrian coach, and went so far as to announce her retirement from international football.
Erceg – who plays with the North Carolina Courage in the US – met with new coach Tom Sermanni to discuss a potential return to the squad.
While she was heartened by the progress, the 28-year-old stressed that her mooted comeback would be a gradual process and that the focus should remain on the side's upcoming Oceania Women's Nations Cup.
"The meeting was encouraging to say the least," she told Newshub. "It's a positive step in the right direction for all involved.
"I've spoken to Tom [Sermanni] and, for now, we’ve agreed that serious discussions will be put on hold. The priority is the qualifiers and all the attention and energy of the new coach should be put towards that endeavour."
Captain Ali Riley was equally encouraged. She responded to the apology on behalf of the playing group and said it was time to move forward and begin to establish a new culture within the group.
"I definitely got a little bit emotional and they did too, but they're really committed to making a change and making sure this kind of thing never happens again.
"I would say after [Monday] we've turned a corner and we're building it back," said Riley.
"Our culture, that closeness and that family feeling was something we've prided ourselves on for many years and I think a little bit of that did get broken, but we're in a really good place today. You could just feel it on the field, the energy. It's all about football now and that's really why we are here.
"We're going to work together as a team with the PFA [Professional Footballers Association], who have been amazing for us, and New Zealand Football, and it's going to be all three parties together that are going to be able to move this team forward."
The Football Ferns will depart for New Caledonia on Friday, before their first match against Tonga on Monday.
Newshub.
