Hey 343(sorry can't quote on new YF app - note to Patrick - ios7 iPhone5), the better ole apfa kids are in the NZF system via NTC. I think soccer fans point was that because they choose to train in their academies, not live in auk or attend an often inferior FTC set up, they were missing out; yet nix/FSE see the talent.
Ok.
Would have thought that if they were in NTC setup and good enough not sure why they would miss out. That said, my understanding is that to qualify for NTC requires a minimum attendance % at FTC and NZ Football and the Federations are pretty clear on that, so if players choose not to comply with attendance requirements then they are potentially making life difficult for themselves.
Not saying I agree with those attendance requirements as there are plenty of valid reasons why a player may not be able to attend FTC, but you can't blame NZF for wanting players to work within a prescribed framework right from Federation level (and in fact they are trying to get them to work within that framework from club level by instituting the WoF programme).