AUCKLAND -The Thai Airways Young All Whites kick-off a busy year for football on Friday night when they meet the Chile U-18 National Team in the first of two internationals in Auckland.
The Chileans play New Zealand’s U-17s at Allen Hill Stadium in Devonport on Friday night and at Douglas Field in Henderson on Sunday – as a curtain-raiser for Waitakere United’s New Zealand Football Championship clash against Team Wellington – before heading off to Sydney for two matches against Australia.
New Zealand and Chile have met nine times at various levels over the past three years, and while Chile holds the upper hand with six wins from those matches, wins in 2008 for the Oly-Whites in Wellington and the Young Football Ferns at the U-20 Women’s World Cup are recent highlights.
New Zealand Football CEO Michael Glading said the growing relationship between the two countries had obvious benefits.
"We forged a formal alliance in 2007, as hosts of the 2008 FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups and an opportunity like this series is a further example of the on-field spin-off for New Zealand," Glading said.
The matches begin the Young All Whites’ quest to qualify for October’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria by winning the Fiji-hosted Oceania U-17 Championship in April – something that takes on even greater importance given the Junior All Whites failure at U-20 level.
"Outside the All Whites double highlights of Confederations Cup and World Cup playoff, qualifying for the U-17 World Cup is our priority in the men’s game in 2009.
"These matches are a great opportunity for our side to benchmark themselves against an older South American side of the highest quality and start the build-up for Oceania World Cup qualifying."
The series also marks Colin Tuaa’s last games in charge of the side after guiding the team to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007.
"Colin goes with our best wishes. He’s done a great job in New Zealand coaching roles over the past few years and hopefully he gets a winning send-off on Sunday."
New Zealand Football is due to name Tuaa’s replacement before the end of the week.
Entry to Friday night’s game is a gold-coin donation while entry to Sunday’s international/NZFC double-header is $10.
Young All Whites squad to face Chile U-18
Goalkeepers:
Alex Carr (Central United)
Coey Turipa (Nelson Suburbs)
Defenders:
Nicholas Paterson (Bay Olympic)
Gordon Murie (Birkenhead United)
Ross Haviland (Eastern Suburbs)
Adam Thomas (Central United)
Adam Smith (Nelson Suburbs)
Ashton Pett (Bay Olympic)
Luis Esteves (Hamilton Wanderers)
Midfielders:
Jack Hobson-McVeigh (Birkenhead United)
Dylan Windust (Seiritsu High School, Japan)
Zane Sole (Central United) Jamie Doris (Nelson Suburbs)
Stephen Kibby (Francis Douglas College)
Fergus Neil (Napier City Rovers)
Alexander Pratap (Ellerslie AFC)
Thomas Spragg (Central United)
Michael Built (Hamilton Wanderers)
Ernesto Lopez (Ellerslie AFC)
Forwards:
Nicolai Molijn (Ellerslie AFC)
Andrew Bevin (Napier City Rovers)
Karlo Pavic (Central United)
Management:
Colin Tuaa (Head coach)
Aaron McFarland (Assistant coach)
Jonathan Gould (GK coach)
David Heads (Manager)
Adam Crump (Physio)
Mark Fulcher (Doctor)
Age-group International Series
New Zealand U-17 v Chile U-18
Match 1
Friday 9 January
Allen Hill Stadium
Kick-off: 6.30pm
Match 2
Sunday 11 January
Douglas Field at Trusts Stadium, Henderson Kick-off 12:30
Story courtesy www.nzfootball.co.nz