World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer has returned to Brisbane Roar for another Westfield W-League season and despite their slow start to the season, she’s confident her side can push for a finals position.
Angerer, a five-time European Championship winner and two-time FIFA World Cup champion, missed the opening two rounds of the campaign due to national team duty and is now looking forward club’s Westfield W-League and Hyundai A-League double header this Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
Nadine, you’ve been back in Brisbane for a couple of weeks now. How are you enjoying it?
I’m really happy being back – that’s why I came back! I’m very comfortable here and it was an easy decision to come back to Brisbane Roar. I had a chat to Belinda and told her I wanted to come back because I felt so comfortable here. I’m back living in West End and this time, I don’t need a sat-nav anymore – I know my way around! I’m a Brissy girl now.
Was losing the Westfield W-League Grand Final last season a big factor in your return?
When I first spoke to Belinda, I told her it felt like I left without finishing what I wanted to. It would have felt different if we had won that Grand Final but I know the team is good enough, even though we are in sixth position. We are good enough to win the league and the Grand Final. Our spot on the table doesn’t mirror how good the team is.
It’s been a tough start to the 2014/15 campaign for the team. What’s the feeling like amongst the squad?
Yeah, it’s true we are in a difficult situation at the moment. I don’t think the results or the table says the truth about the team – we have been unlucky and even though we didn’t play too well in our last game, we have so much potential in the team. We are very good at practice and it’s just little things we have to change. Nevertheless, sixth place in the table is not good enough.
This weekend, the W-League and A-League teams are playing a double header at Suncorp Stadium. Looking forward to it?
Absolutely! To be honest, we play on some not so good surfaces in the W-League and we are very happy to playing at Suncorp Stadium before the A-League boys. When I left at the end of the W-League season, the A-League season was still going so I still kept up to date with what was happening. I tweeted a lot and kept in contact with the players and was so happy when they won the Grand Final. I didn’t get a chance to watch but I was so pleased for them, especially after training with them when I was here last season.
Training with other goalkeepers Kate Stewart and Teagan Micah, what is that like?
I always have fun with the other goalkeepers. We try to get the best out of each other and work hard together. We also set ourselves little challenges all the time like “I know you can’t save that one” so a bit of banter. It’s always positive challenges so it brings more fun to practice as well.
Brisbane Roar W-League host Western Sydney Wanderers in the first match of a double header at Suncorp Stadium this Sunday, 12 October. Kick off for the early match is 1pm with Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United kicking off at 4pm in Round 1 of the Hyundai A-League. Tickets available through Ticketek.
