Umeå welcome young talents

Umeå IK are beginning their preparations for the 2007 season, which will begin with a bang as they face Arsenal LFC for the UEFA Women's Cup in April, and are coming to terms with life in the absence of Malin Moström and Anna Sjöström.

Duo retire
Midfielder Moström and forward Sjöström have been starring for club and country for many years, the Swedish internationals both part of the Umeå sides that won the 2003 and 2004 UEFA Women's Cup titles and dominated the domestic scene. But after helping Umeå to yet another league crown in 2006 and aiding their passage to the European final against Arsenal on 21 and 29 April, they have both opted to retire.

Star Ma
The club have opted for youth as replacements, with the highest-profile arrival the 19-year-old Chinese international striker Ma Xiaoxu from Dalian Shide. She has already won a host of awards, and indeed was shortlisted for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, won by her new club-mate Marta. Ma was top scorer and named player of the tournament at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Russia last summer, where China reached the final.

Asian awards
She ended last year as Asia's women's player of the year and the Asian Young Footballer of the Year, the latter award previously only won by men. Umeå coach Andrée Jeglertz said: "She's got brilliant technique, and I'm very eager to see what she can bring to our current strikeforce."

Bachmann signing
Taking Moström's place in midfield from 1 March is 16-year-old Swiss player Ramona Bachmann, who was also at the U20 World Cup and is currently with FC Malters. "She's got enormous potential, and I’m sure she'll compete for a berth in the starting eleven immediately," Jeglertz said.

Arsenal challenge
Also joining is another teenage midfielder Emelie Konradsson from Umedalens IF, but the established likes of Hanna Ljungberg and Marta remain in place as Umeå begin their preparations for the start of the season in April, when of course they face Arsenal for what would be a record third European crown. Jeglertz knows Arsenal will be tough, though. "Yes, they're a strong side and even though we are in pre-season right now, we have to make sure that we are all fighting fit for this game," he said. "It can sometimes be a bit difficult to get going so quickly but hopefully we'll be strong enough, and we all have our sights on the title."