Fifty girls have enjoyed an outstanding training day experience with two successful German players brought to New Zealand by the RH3 Football Academy.

Girls aged 8-14 travelled up to two hours to spend their day with Stefanie Mirlach (33) and Julia Simic (34) who ran a six-hour session at Cambridge FC’s John Kerkhof Park on Saturday July 15, 2023.

They had the opportunity to learn from two players who have experienced World Cups, and have enjoyed professional careers with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

RH3 founder Ricki Herbert said:

“It was a marvellous day. The girls who attended enjoyed the sessions, and had the chance to see two outstanding teachers share their knowledge and enthusiasm.

“Given the excitement attached to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it was a special way for young girls at grassroots level to get to meet two players who have played at the very top of the game.”

Mirlach and Simic have played professional club football in Europe, for title-winning teams, and they have played age group internationals for Germany from U-15 to U-23.

Now, they enjoy hosting programmes and events to encourage young girls who want to develop as players.

Herbert said the visit to New Zealand came about when he met Julia Simic in Switzerland when they were both taking part in FIFA’s ‘The Next 90 Programme’.

Bio: Stefanie Mirlach

After playing her first game of football as a six-year-old, in a boys’ team, she played in all the German national age group teams from U-15 to U-23.

She was a member of Germany’s winning squad at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010.

Mirlach played professional football for nine years with FC Bayern Munich (1.Bundesliga), and for two seasons with FFC Turbine Potsdam (1. Bundesliga) .

She won the DFB Cup (National League Cup) with Bayern Munich in 2012.

Now working for broadcaster Sky Sports Germany, she is responsible for Women’s sport strategy & projects.

Bio: Julia Simic

Simic began playing in boys’ teams, when she was six, and played her way into Bayern Munich’s first team at the age of 16.

After 12 years playing professionally in the German Bundesliga, Simic spent two seasons with English Super League club West Ham United and then moved to Italy to play for AC Milan.

At club level, she has won four cup finals, one championship and played in two Champions League semi-finals and a final.

Simic represented Germany at all age group levels, and earned a winner’s medal at the U-19 European Championship, and a bronze medal at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile.

After playing two full internationals for Germany, injury forced her early retirement as a player and she’s since worked as an assistant with the U-17 German women’s team.