New Zealand U-17 goalkeeper Anna Leat says it was a surreal feeling winning the ISPS Handa Halberg Award for New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment.

The down-to-earth 17-year-old won the Award for the Penalty Shootout win over Japan in New Zealand’s quarterfinal win at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.

She was joined by all of her team-mates on stage at Spark Arena to accept the ISPS Handa Halberg Award and said it was a really special moment for the team.

“To have this sort of recognition for what we did is just amazing,” said Leat, who will travel with the Football Ferns to Australia next week.

“It is beyond what we ever could have expected from the journey we have been on. The way that we were able to capture the nation was pretty amazing.”

New Zealand’s Favourite Sporting Moment is the only award to be voted on by the public and Leat said it was humbling to be voted ahead of some other incredible sporting moments.

“The calibre of athletes that are here and the achievements that New Zealand sport makes is really awesome and to be highlighted as one of them is beyond anything I could have thought of.”

New Zealand's Favourite Sporting Moment
Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (Skiing and snowboarding)
David Liti (Weightlifting)
Kelly Brazier (Rugby Union)
Black Sticks Women (Hockey)
Amelia Kerr (Cricket)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Rugby League)
Auckland Rugby (Rugby)
Black Caps (Cricket)
Anna Leat (Football)

Article added: Friday 22 February 2019