This Sunday, 28th October, the reigning Oceania Champions Team Wellington, are our opposition in a double ISPS Handa Premiership and Youth Team match.

Team Wellington are a formidable team since Matt Calcott took them to their first Premiership 3 seasons ago. Since then they have gone on to win another Premiership and become Oceania Champions. They are the only NZ franchise, apart from Auckland City and Waitakere United, to have won the Premiership or O-league since its inception which places them in stellar company.

Their season started with a 4-3 loss to Auckland City in the Charity Cup/Round 1 match but was followed up with an emphatic 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix. They are a free-scoring team that has scored 7 goals in 2 games and once again will be looking to challenging for major honours at the end of the season.

Our coach, Chris Milicich, is familiar with the many faces at Team Wellington with many being selected to represent NZ at under 20 level during his successful 4 years as the head coach of the U20s. The likes of Justin Gulley, Scott Basalaj, Hamish Watson and Andy Bevin were instrumental in gaining NZ some outstanding results during that period. He is hugely pleased to see many of them have kicked on to become the person and player they are now.

“It is always a pleasure to catch up with players you have had a lot of involvement with and see how they are progressing in their careers. As a coach, you provide leadership during the time you influence them, but you want to see them leave your environment a better person and player which goes on to better situations. I really do look forward to catching up with them this Sunday in what will hope will be another hugely compelling and watchable game for the crowd and for the viewers on Sky TV,” said Chris.

With a less than desired opening game result, the team is looking to bounce back with a strong performance that leads on from the second half recovery against Hamilton Wanderers. With so many new players to the club, it is going to take time to create the patterns and understanding that will create the right results for the club.

With a real emphasis on continuing to develop youth players, it was such a positive step forward last week to have both Oscar Browne and Tawanda Morewa come off the bench to make their National League debuts.

DATE: 28th October

KICKOFF: 4.35pm

LOCATION: The Trusts Arena, Henderson

GATES OPEN: 12.30pm for the National Youth League fixtured at 1pm between Waitakere United and Team Wellington Youth

PRICES: $10 an adult and children U16 free.

FOR A HALF PRICE VOUCHER TO THE MATCH PLEASE CLICK HERE