Under valued, under funded, under the radar - women's sport seek change in New Zealand

USA's Alex Morgan (L) and New Zealand's Abby Erceg struggle for possession during their women's quarter final soccer match at the London 2012 Olympic Games at St James' Park in Newcastle, northern England August 3, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The decision by captain Abby Erceg to walk away from the New Zealand women's soccer team at the age of 27 did not come as a shock to sports academic Sarah Leberman, who views her experience as typical for female athletes in the country.

Although a professional, Erceg will hang up her international boots later this week because she believes New Zealand Football did not value the Football Ferns, who routinely make Olympics and World Cup tournaments, as highly as the men's team.