Betsy Hassett wasn't expecting a national team call-up so soon after the birth of son Nói, Photo: Colombia Football Federatiion
Nine months after the birth of her first child, midfielder Betsy Hassett is surprised to be back in the Football Ferns with the potential to add to her 157 caps for New Zealand.
Hassett is one of five changes new head coach Michael Mayne has made for two games against world No. 51 Venezuela in Spain. The first game is at 4am Sunday (NZT).
Playing semi-professional club football for Icelandic Premier Division club Stjarnan, a club she has been with since 2020, Hassett said, despite being in contact with Mayne since late last year, she was not expecting a call-up for this tour.
All her club games were filmed, so Mayne knew what kind of form she was in, before he brought her into the squad.
"I'm physically and mentally back, and I'm ready to go," Hassett, 34, said.
Her return means she is joined by son Nói and partner Gummi on this tour. They are staying in an apartment in Spain, around the corner from the team hotel.
When Hassett first played for the Football Ferns as a teenager, goalkeeper Jenny Bindon was the only mum in the team.
Bindon is now a Football Ferns assistant coach and son Tyler is an All White.
"That was a big inspiration for me back then, but I was not even thinking about [motherhood], I was so young back then," Hassett said.
Former Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon now has a son in the All Whites. Photo: Photosport
Not every Football Ferns mum has found the balance possible.
"There's been Hayley Bowden and she came back for maybe one tour, but it was a bit difficult," Hassett said of the midfielder who retired in 2015. "There was not really set-up for babies and family, so she had to give it up,"
"That's why I'm going to give it a go. Times are changing now, so it's really cool that this is actually a possible thing to do now."
Re-joining the Football Ferns has meant getting introduced to the newbies and reacquainted with those players whom Hassett has played many games with.
"There's definitely some new faces in the team, now I've been out for just over a year, so really enjoying getting to know a couple of girls I've never even met before," she said.
"Then, of course, coming back in and meeting up with the likes of Stotty [Rebekah Stott] and Flea [Annalie Longo] and Ally Green and the older ones that I'm used to playing with has been amazing, and especially for them to just get to meet my little new son."
Football Ferns line up to face Colombia. Photo: photosport
After playing college football in California, Hassett has played club football around the world in Germany, England, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland and Wellington.
The long Icelandic winters take some getting used to as a footballer, when training conditions can be "tough".
"It's coming into summer, so it's getting brighter there very quickly. The days are really long and I'm looking forward to the summer, because it can be really long winters there.
"It's nice to go away for a little break in the middle of the winter sometimes, just to get away and see some sun. It's actually really nice to have training in the winter, because it's something that makes you feel better.
"Get out and run around and see your mates, instead of just being inside and in the dark all day."
The Football Ferns' games against Venezuela will be the first time the two sides have faced each other at senior international level.
"It's going to be a good challenge," Hassett said. "I think they'll be a really good team, strong team, so we're doing everything we can, and we're looking good and heading into the game so far.
"Really excited to see what we can do."
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