New Zealand Men's U-17s
And from a different source, the coach admitted to administrators at one of the top clubs outside of Auckland City that he did no watch/stream any of their games during last season and didn't know wny of their players... thus their non-selection.
Was later forced to do a little back tracking when outside pressure was applied, but selected "the wrong players" according to the club, reinforcing his lack of knowledge of the local playing stock.
After the dismal performance of the u17, I am amazed he still holds the role and the above makes it even worse.
Wynton Rufer does a great job - he is very selective with who he works with and he upskills the boys and theres no doubt he produces technically better players, but they have a bit of ability before he gets them. He would be great but he will never work with nzf.
Ole Academy seen by some as Cult attitude not the best. Not sure what its like now. A couple of players have come out of there. But players come out of other places too.
Agree talent has to be identified earlier in this country. That also takes the right people identifying the talent....problem is anyone with half a football brain in this country won't go near NZF or the game here.
The issues run too deep. But we must remember we are only a few small detached islands in the middle of the pacific....Never gonna be world beaters in the world of football. But we can try to improve with the right education with the right educators.
As for the last U17 keeping their job? These guys at NZF all ring fence their positions. No ones going no where. No ones to blame. No Accountability.
Just had word that Stipe Ukich is currently over in Croatia training/trialling with the U19's setup for 1.HNL side NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.
Good in the sense it will get our lads more meaningful matches against quality opposition at youth level. Something we struggle to do when it's not a World Cup year.
Being held yearly potentially means we're looking at a relatively full calendar of fixtures between qualifying and the World Cup proper. Which I guess is a good thing given we're boom or bust for fixtures at this level depending on if it's world cup year or not.
However
It's hard to not look at this and think of how much of a money grab it is.
48 teams is excessive.
Qatar...Well what's that saying 'If I speak, I will be in trouble.'
I mean it's common knowledge they bribed their way to hosting the men's 2022 World Cup, but surely hosting everything else isn't worth doing that all over again is it?
The youth tournaments are ostensibly developmental things; I mean, why else would OFC get two spots? With growth rates of teenagers, biennial means you could be simply too small one round, then too old next. This just means fewer kids will miss out on that opportunity for reasons out of their control, like growth spurts etc. Likelihood is, most kids outside 'big' football nations won't have a bigger footballing moment (or any moment for those from some impoverished nations) than a U17 WC; just look at some names in NZ squads over the last decade or so. So I doubt the kids going will have any complaints; couple weeks of schools to focus on football, pride of representing the country etc.
As for Qatar, it's, of course, a bit contentious, but is like the size of Auckland and has a plethora of the most elite training facilities, accommodation and the like. The World Cup has made it a pretty well-equipped place, objectively looking. There are certainly worse places, amenity-wise, a World Cup could be held.
Qatar paying the bill at a guess whilst Fifa looks at the finances of it. How much tv rights it gets.
Qatar paying the bill at a guess whilst Fifa looks at the finances of it. How much tv rights it gets.
You do have to wonder if this format gets canned if Qatar realises that no one actually wants to visit or live in Qatar by choice.
Ive got lots of colleagues and a brother in law who all worked for businesses based there and they are all glad to now be in NZ, UK, Europe etc.
Not one has a nice world to say outside of tax-free earnings which they are all quite happy to forgo, not to have to be there anymore. Friends from Sri Lanka often comment on how much racism they endured.
Well the FA have more dosh than NZF, plus it's become a real issue now in Aussie - their age group teams failing to qualify for World Cups through AFC.
Is a U17 WC next year, and presumably same AFC U17 WC qualifying tourney.
Since joining AFC 2006, Joeys (Aus U17s) WC record below.
Failed to qualify 5 times. Qualified 3 times, but never past R16.
I see the U16 + U19 NZ Secondary Schools teams are over in Aussie at the moment for several games over the course of a week and a half.
Connor Smith (FC Hennef 05) is in Germany.
Luka Vicelich, son of?
🇳🇿 Congratulations to the 23-players named in the team set to compete at the OFC Men's U-16 Championship, taking place this July and August in Tahiti 👏
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) June 25, 2024
📖 Read more at https://t.co/0B0ehXf2Uf
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/142584?newsfeedId=1950842
The winner, runner up and third place from the tournament will qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup set to be played in Qatar.
“It is always exciting to kick off a new age group cycle and I’m really pleased with the squad we have assembled after extensive scouting and identification games” says head coach Martin Bullock.
“We have seen from recent tournaments that the OFC nations are developing really quickly so these are going to be challenging games, especially for this age group were it is your first taste of international football.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for our players to play competitive matches and learn more about what it takes to be successful in the game, so I look forward to working with them to help them achieve their potential.”
Aotearoa New Zealand have been drawn in Group A at the tournament and will play Vanuatu (29 July NZ / 28 July local), Fiji (1 August NZ / 31 July local) and Cook Islands (4 August NZ / 3 August local).
All games will be played at Stade Pater, Papeete, Tahiti.
Connor Smith (FC Hennef 05) is in Germany.
Luka Vicelich, son of?
🇳🇿 Congratulations to the 23-players named in the team set to compete at the OFC Men's U-16 Championship, taking place this July and August in Tahiti 👏
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) June 25, 2024
📖 Read more at https://t.co/0B0ehXf2Uf
Two of those Aussies are especially huge coups for New Zealand. Aaron Cartwright was called up to Australia's U-17s earlier this year; Joey Banza (2009-born!) just made his senior men's debut for WSW's NPL side last week, and is very highly rated in the WSW setup.
Alex Lienard another dual national I'm very glad we've snagged. 15, and has already made his U18 Premier League debut for Sunderland
Connor Smith is German born-and-raised, with Kiwi heritage (hence the name). Bit of a Pennington situation
Bullock must be under some pressure after last year's pretty average performances at the U17 WC in Indonesia.
Bullock must be under some pressure after last year's pretty average performances at the U17 WC in Indonesia.
A lot of people more in the know than myself reckon it's almost become a 'just happy to be there' vibe around qualifying to the U17 World Cup. Definitely an attitude that needs to change...
48 teams qualify for the U17's from now on, and it's a world cup year every year now too - exactly what we need at that level with what will amount to be a pretty full international calendar going from WCQ to WC in a very short space of time. Probably why OFC get 3 spots - Even so, that is awfully, awfully generous given NZ's own past poor performances on that stage.
You'd also imagine some of these guys, especially Banza and Cartwright would still be very much on the radar at Football Australia, so their selection will likely ruffle a few feathers across the ditch too.
Note Nathan Walker (Winger, Fencibles), Matt Foord (GK, Cash-Tech) and Dylan Gardiner (CB, Hamilton W) signing after last year's U17 WC for the Weenix.
11 of the above squad are based at Northern League clubs.
Only 6 at Central & Southern League clubs. Be interesting to see who goes to AFC & who to Weenix post the U17 WC in Qatar.
I think Mrs Mils said the Nix had already been talking to Brooke-Smith at Hamilton Wanderers. The Kiwi Klasico rivalry is already underway off the pitch.
And shout out to smaller club Fencibles their 2nd U17 national rep in 2 years. Nathan Walker was with them up to last year before leaving for the Phoenix.
Even with an expanded 48 team WC (so presumably more slots for AFC teams), is no guarantee Australia will get to the U17 WC. These kids can always flip flop back to Australia later though, ie not cap tied. And because we now get to send a contingent of U17 boys annually to a WC (so basically double the previous number going to WCs), and all those valuable learnings, we shouldn't get too upset if some do flip flop back to Aussie.
𝗡𝗭 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 | 𝗟𝗨𝗞𝗔 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗛 𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗨𝟭𝟲 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗨𝗣
— 🇳🇿 Auckland City FC (@AucklandCity_FC) June 25, 2024
Congratulations to our latest Navy Blues youngster selected to represent NZ as a member of the 23-player squad at OFC U16 Championships in Tahiti 28 July - 10 Aug#WeAreNavyBlue 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/VXMEIcq6nO
Bullock must be under some pressure after last year's pretty average performances at the U17 WC in Indonesia.
A lot of people more in the know than myself reckon it's almost become a 'just happy to be there' vibe around qualifying to the U17 World Cup. Definitely an attitude that needs to change...
48 teams qualify for the U17's from now on, and it's a world cup year every year now too - exactly what we need at that level with what will amount to be a pretty full international calendar going from WCQ to WC in a very short space of time. Probably why OFC get 3 spots - Even so, that is awfully, awfully generous given NZ's own past poor performances on that stage.
You'd also imagine some of these guys, especially Banza and Cartwright would still be very much on the radar at Football Australia, so their selection will likely ruffle a few feathers across the ditch too.
Concerning to see two of Australia's best 2009-born players called up for New Zealand for the OFC U16 Championship. An appearance in the tournament would tie them to NZ for the 2025 U17 World Cup cycle. https://t.co/wjOmrA1GQJ
— AussieScout (@scout_aussie) June 26, 2024
Proud moment for our family 🫶⚽️ Well done to everyone selected. Good luck in Tahiti. https://t.co/xVUNj0w1EE
— Ivan Vicelich (@IvanVicelich) June 26, 2024
Not only is he one of the youngest players playing senior football in Wellington (he is one of only a few under-15 players to be granted dispensation by Capital Football to do so https://www.capitalfootball.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=6bf989ca-c018-40fa-9fb1-e4ac8a79d095), but he is also one of the most booked players in Wellington (he has already been yellow-carded 6 times this season and has served a suspension after he reached 5 bookings). One more yellow card will earn him a two-game ban.
https://www.capitalfootball.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=d4966bf5-2409-48cc-8b99-b7716f29e10a
However, despite his ill-discipline, the selectors must like his ball-playing ability and no-nonsense tough-tackling approach in midfield.
Let's hope he can keep his discipline in check when competing in the heat and humidity of Tahiti in a few weeks.
First training session in Tahiti for the U-16 team ahead of their first OFC Men’s Championship match against Vanuatu on Sunday 🇳🇿
— New Zealand Football 🇳🇿 (@NZ_Football) July 26, 2024
Watch all the matches live and free on @fifaplus 🎥https://t.co/6NndLiyDoA pic.twitter.com/jQVi3L07p1
Watch the battle now between the Nix and AFC to sign those not already with Weenix.
Luke Brooke-Smith has already as an example been trialling at NZCIS.
I expect we will hear an announcement on a new AFC Academy setup sometime this summer. Maybe operating out of Albany.
The U17 WC moving to an annual event could be a big help to both clubs with their talent ID. The best NZ talent showcased/bench marked on a world stage every 12 months.
Be interesting to see if somone like Martin Bullock who's presumbably based at Albany with NZF, is invited into any AFC Academy coaching setup. Been plenty of NZ age group coaches like Greenacre with strong Nix links in the past & present.
Few names to keep an eye out on:
- a very intimidating CB in Alex Lienard;
- Melbourne City youngster and former Joey, Aaron Cartwright;
- midfielder Luke Brooke-Smith;
- Justin Cardozo up front;
- '09-born winger Joey Banza off the bench.
TEAM NEWS | Here are your starting line-ups for the opening match at the OFC U-16 Men's Championship 2024, as New Zealand take on Vanuatu.
— Oceania Football Confederation (@OFCfootball) July 28, 2024
Watch all the action LIVE and FREE on FIFA+https://t.co/dcPqaqaezT#U16M pic.twitter.com/EwGm89yeA0
Huge step up in commentary too! This guy is lovely, great facts about each player too
edit: Cartwright absolutely COOKING. Probably our best so far, fantastic feet. Left-footer playing right-wing
Some extremely promising talent at this level. Wingers Brooke-Smith and Cartwright the standouts. Brooke-Smith with unmatched acceleration, agility and ball control, and scored a beautiful curler with his right from the edge of the box. Cartwright with a deadly cut-inside game and great close control considering the awful pitch, and a few great crosses with his right including a couple of assists. CB pairing of Lienard and Vicelich very solid, Lienard in particular bodying everyone with his impressive stature (must be 195cm+?). Damion Kim controlling the pace well at DM.
Huge step up in commentary too! This guy is lovely, great facts about each player too
edit: Cartwright absolutely COOKING. Probably our best so far, fantastic feet. Left-footer playing right-wing
Wouldn't be surprised to see Luke Brooke-Smith snapped up on a scholarship deal soon tbh - Much to the chagrin of those up North in Auckland who wanted him involved in their reserves/academy setup for next Northern League season.
Still boggles the mind that three OFC teams are going to qualify for the U17 World Cup out of this. 😅
Two feels about right.
Three feels like they're pushing the boat out far too quickly, even if it is going to be a 48 team WC...
Need to see him against a better opponent before passing judgment, but I'll be keeping a keen eye on his progress at WSW. Hope for our sake we can hold onto him.