News stories of interest to members and supporters of Friends of Football
Auckland City head coach Albert Riera says he got his team’s tactics wrong in the first leg of their OFC Champions League play-off against Wellington Olympic — but his players will be tactically and mentally ready for the second leg. … Read More
The country’s top futsal players gather in Auckland this weekend for the first of two national series to decide New Zealand’s men’s and women’s champion teams. Thirty games will take place over three days of competition at Auckland’s Trusts Arena. … Read More
The lifting of restrictions on the signing of players would help the establishment of a second women’s A-League team in New Zealand, says Wellington Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence. She said she hoped an expansion of the women’s competition to … Read More
There’s everything from a sudden death OFC Champions League play-off to a special pre-season friendly to remember a stalwart of Auckland football — that’s how the weekend shapes up for football fans. Auckland City and Wellington Olympic face each other … Read More
A late change to the line-up of clubs has kept Oratia United in the Lotto NRFL Northern Conference, despite their relegation from last season’s second division. Oratia have survived the drop to the Lotto NRFL League One because Central United … Read More
New Zealand Football have welcomed confirmation from FIFA that Visit Saudi will not be a sponsor at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. In a statement, NZF said: “We believe it is critical for all commercial partnerships to align with … Read More
The backers of a second New Zealand A-League franchise should expect to sustain heavy losses in the first three years of operations, at least, warns Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome. Dome told Newstalk ZB presenter D’Arcy Waldegrave any investor … Read More
The Wellington Phoenix will be without talismanic striker Oskar Zawada for their Friday night A-League match against Adelaide United. Zawada — whose wife Patricia is expecting the couple’s first child — is named in the squad list as ‘unavailable – … Read More
Auckland football writer Jonno Ross has made his debut as an interviewer for Sky Sports show The Kiwi Football Fix, quizzing Wellington Phoenix players Oli Sail and Tim Payne about impending player movement at the A-League club. Ross, who writes … Read More
Promoted Manurewa have made a series of new signings ahead of their return to football’s Northern League. They include two players from England’s National League South, an attacking midfielder from Chile and three players from league rivals Hamilton Wanderers and … Read More