WELLINGTON – The All Whites are calling on the nation’s support to help them return to the FIFA World Cup after a 27 year absence.
At Monday’s launch of an innovative internet-driven campaign to rally New Zealand’s sporting public for the decisive home game in Wellington on November 14, All Whites captain Tim Brown spoke passionately about the chance to reach the World Cup finals via a playoff against Asian opposition.
“We’re close, potentially just two games away, but we need the country behind us, especially for the home game to help us add a new chapter in Kiwi sport,” Brown said.
“It’s the game of our careers but it will be for Bahrain or Saudi Arabia as well, so we need the edge that only a home crowd can provide to tip the scales slightly in our favour.”
The campaign, conceived by Clemenger BBDO, was commissioned by the New Zealand Professional Footballers Association and supported by New Zealand Football, Wellington City Council and the Wellington consortium that successfully bid to host the match.
A special “one shot for glory” website will allow the public to demonstrate their support for the team and some notable kiwi sporting stars ranging from Black Caps to Silver Ferns have already lent their support.
Also enticing fans to the Wellington match are adult ticket prices of $29 and $39 and the chance to be part of an attempt to set a world record for the largest team photo.
Tickets go on public sale via Ticketek on August 25 although pre-sales to Visa customers and to the grassroots football community begin this week.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert – who features heavily in the three month campaign designed to whip fan support to fever pitch – was an integral part of the 1982 team that successfully qualified for the finals in Spain, and could already see parallels between the teams’ respective journeys.
“There’s some obvious shades of ’82 in that our route goes through Asia again and we face a pair of make-or-break games at the end,” Herbert said, “but now I can sense that the buzz of public support that was there back then is beginning to come back as we get closer to the playoff.”
“That campaign was a special moment not just for sports fans but for non-sports followers as well. There was an amazing feeling sweeping the country and you could sense it coming from the stands at Mt Smart. It’s exciting that these lads could be about to create and share in the same feeling here in Wellington.”
“But unlike ‘82 we decide our fate on home soil.”
Wellington successfully bid to host the match, and while Auckland-based New Zealand Football CEO Michael Glading acknowledged the support of Wellington City Council he expected to watch the match with plenty of fellow “out-of-towners.”
“There’s no doubt Wellington will make a great host, and the majority of the current All Whites squad quite clearly felt at home here, but this is a national event.”
“It’s another chance for New Zealand to make its mark on the world stage and rub shoulders with the best of the best,” Glading said.
“I think kiwis, no matter what their postcode or sporting affiliation, will buy into that.”
“There’s already interest, as we’d expect, from all corners of the country. It’s a unique opportunity and with accessible prices, a Saturday night kick-off, and a team that’s shown they’re ready for the challenge, I’m expecting a full house.”
The All Whites face the winner of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in the first leg away from home on October 10 with a final warm-up match against Jordan in Amman on September 9. Kick off for the November 14 match is 8pm.
Story courtesy of NZF Media
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