A pair of Semiahmoo Secondary students are in Azerbaijan this week, getting set for one of the biggest tournaments of their young soccer careers.
Aman Shergill and Emma Fletcher, both members of the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite program, left last week for the Western Asia country, where they’ll suit up for their respective countries at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup from Sept. 22 until Oct. 13.
Shergill, a defender, will play for Canada, while Fletcher – a Saanich native who attends school in South Surrey in order to play for the Whitecaps – will play midfield for New Zealand.
Jasmin Dhanda, a North Surrey resident, and Richmond forward Summer Clarke, are also on the Canadian side.
Canada, in Group A, begins group-stage play Saturday, with a game against Nigeria, and then plays the host Azerbaijan side a week later, on Sept. 29.
Canada reached the quarterfinal round of the 2008 World Cup in New Zealand before being eliminated by Germany.
Fletcher and her New Zealand teammates, meanwhile, will play in Group C, beginning Sunday with a game against Mexico. They also play Wednesday against Japan.