www.h-avis.no/narmer-seg-vm-og-kanskje-avaldsnes-ma-innromme-at-jeg-er-litt-nervos/s/5-62-1437526Approaching the World Cup and may be Avaldsnes: - I must admit, I'm a bit nervous
Today, Meryll Abrahamsen travels to Chile to play for the Philippines. At the same time, she opens the door for comeback at Avaldsnes.
Exciting times ahead for the 25 year-old from Veavågen at Karmøy. If things go according to plan, she will play for the Philippines - against Norway - in the World Cup in New Zealand next summer.
Hopefully, she will get her club career back on track by then after an injury ruined the entire 2022 for her.
Abrahamsen was one of Arna Bjørnar's best players in 2020 and 2021. Sports manager Erik Mjelde is telling Haugesunds Avis that he has come to an agreement with Abrahamsen about a new club for next year where she will get more game time for optimal preparations for the World Cup.
- That's right. I'm done at Arna Bjørnar. I need something new, so I need a club where I can build myself up after the injury and play more regularly next spring season. I have decided to make a serious attempt of making the Filipina World Cup squad.
Meryll played 55 Toppserien matches for Avaldsnes from 2015 to 2018. She now opens the door for a comeback at the Karmøy club.
- It's possible. I spoke to Hanna Dahl (Avaldsnes captain) yesterday. Mostly friendly chat, but I asked what's it like under the new regime there (with John Arne Riise), Abrahamsen reveals to Haugesunds Avis.
Meryll underlines she hasn't contacted any people in the administration at Avaldsnes. And there will be no return to the club if they are relegated later this month.
Abrahamsen has never kept it secret about a dream to play abroad one day.
- But after a season hampered by injury, it will get difficult now. Most likely I will feature for a Norwegian club next year.
Haugesunds Avis revealed in the beginning of August, that Meryll Krysteen Abrahamsen Rosales Serrano, had received an offer on Instagram from the football federation of the Philippines.
Meryll's mother is from this island nation in South East Asia.
Since then, the 25 year old has been on a training camp in California with the Filipinas. She now has dual citizenship and acquired her Philippine passport just recently.
Today, she brings this passport with her and boards the flight to Chile in South America, where the Filipinas will play two friendly matches against Chile (12 and 15 Nov).
- I'm very excited. I wasn't fully fit during the earlier camp in California in August and did alternative exercises instead. But I got to know the players, staff and saw the level of play. I had barely heard about this team before, but I was very impressed. It's a very dedicated group of players, but I think I have something to offer as well, says Abrahamsen.
She has nine youth level caps for Norway. By playing for the Filipinas, she automatically closes the door to the dream of playing for Norway's senior team.
On the other hand, she gets to play against Norway.
- I could just feel it before the draw. Something told me Norway and the Philippines would end up in the same group.
And that's how it turned out. The draw on October 22 resulted in a group with Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand and the Philippines next summer.
On Sunday, July 30, Norway will the Philippines in the last group game in Auckland, New Zealand.
- That would be such an occasion and very special for me. At the moment, I'm sharing an apartment with Aurora Mikalsen (Norway and Brann goalkeeper) in Bergen. And I have a bunch of former club team mates playing for Norway, says Abrahamsen.
The attacking midfielder suffered a serious muscle injury in her thigh shortly before the season started this year.
It wasn't until October 23, in the home match against Avaldsnes, that she played her first minutes for Arna Bjørnar this season. She came on as a substitute 12 minutes before the end. The week later, she played 10 minutes against Kolbotn. And that was it. The season was over.
2023 can be much more exciting.
- I'm 100% injury free. It's all about getting back the match fitness now, says Meryll Abrahamsen - on her way to a new adventure.
First in South America.
- I must admit, I'm a bit nervous before the matches against Chile. After that, it's another camp in Australia in december, concludes Abrahamsen before saying good-bye.