Mt Smart on Sunday

Mt Smart on Sunday

Bit of a conundrum I do have on Sunday.

Ill be going.

If is lived in AKL I'd be there for-shore and seabed.

Agree mate, need to get behind WU regardess of who you normally support for the good of football in NZ.

I'd encourage all AKLders (and others nearby) to get along to the game. The benefits to the game nationally (pay-day prize money) are worth putting the effort in. phil_style2007-04-26 11:40:05

After what happened at the u20`s game versus Fiji in january they better have some decent security organised. A competent referee and assistants would also be useful.

I was there at the under-20 final. The intimidation at the end was a disgrace, and one of the reasons I will be backing the Kiwi team, even though it is the White Sh*tes.

CMON BA!!!

I just hate Waitakere far too much to say I'd support them. If they win, then the bonus is the monetary split going to the other 7 NZFC franchises (last season it was around $58,000 each). I'll be there taking photos. Will watch and see where the action is most likely and head for that end.

Yes I suppose your right and I'm taking a couple of budding photographers on a field excercise - although one of them has already shot the Blackburn v Middlesbrough premier league match on 30 December 06.

ah that would be two years ago - not sure what wo years is!

Anyone seen the movie Killer Sheep? I'm just hoping Ba are in the mood this weekend:-p

In my case I set up Waikato FC and before Wilkinson headed up to take the ACFC job he said some things that reflected poorly on me and some of my friends that helped me set up the franchise in the first place. I walked out of the Melville United clubrooms after hearing his opinions. Soon afterwards he got sacked by ACFC and hello, he is banging on the door of Waikato FC looking for a job.

City are my team. Some of my favourite players from the Kingz ended up there and since half the Bloc are there too, it feels like home. I really look forward to the games, and the people in the clubhouse afterwards have been really welcoming. It's the best football club in New Zealand bar none IMO. And the atmosphere is the best in NZ by a country mile.

They are just keeping the spot open until City get through again next year.

On ya Dai - bang on the money

You are spot on about Auckland City / Central United. They have the environment pretty spot on. I can go into the clubrooms and instantly feel that I am in a proper football club. The people are good people and they deserve all the success they have had through the winter and summer.

With you Canary - I won't be going to the game - even $5 in Waitak's pockets is too much.

I've got an OFC media pass to take pix so not paying any dough myself, although it will cost the petrol money divided by three others from Hamilton.

Dont think i could ever bring myself to cheer for waitakere...

According to Dewhurst this morning 3000 pre sales. Maybe a crowd of 5000 is possible? How do we get Fijians and other minorities interested in supporting football in this country? Seems to be an issue in N.Z.

That's fairly simple.  Get one of their crowd into a regular team.

It's more than getting one of them into your team. I suspect that one day Uni Mt Wellington will become one of the wealthiest clubs in the country. Sure they have pulled out of the Northern League but they have aligned themselves with the ehtnic communities and when they get the Fijians etc playing and regularly using the facilities at Bill McKinlay, they'll get crowds which bring dollars. All those corner dairy owners are also potential sponsors too. I believe clubs need to set up an ethnic division within their incorporated societies and let them play under the club umbrella but perhaps amongst themselves then as a trust is built, friendships made, a relationship cemented, then you start to integrate them into the rest of the club structure. Some clubs have tried it but most are unsuccessful.We dont understand their culture and they don't understand ours. Once we do, I'm sure the immigrants will become more accepted and then we wll see the talented ones confident enough to mix with Kiwi's in a normal social setting.

Make that a beer! I just become a senior MEMBER! YAY!

I like those thoughts Kiwi Canary. We will be a much better country and a better footballing nation when these people feel comfortable enough to fully participate in football at all levels in this country.

Put another way, I attended the NZ Ethnic Football Festival at Waikato University back in January or early Feb (can't remember) but Waikato FC were playing Canterbury at Waikato Stadium in front of 150 people and 4000 people were at the ethnic festival enjoying the colour, culture and food - not to mention the football.

"It would be a massive boost to the game in West Auckland and in the rest of New Zealand. I'd like to think that most neutrals will be behind us because it looks like our supporters will be outnumbered by Ba supporters." - Steve Cain.

hmmmmmmmm......... no. I'd rather lose the $58,000 cut to ACFC than see your toothless mugs smiling while you gloat about going to Tokyo. No chance of any support from me. Does anyone know what Ba are like? any key players?

I think one of their goalscorers in the 1st leg is their star player. According to my Fijian mate whom i'm going to the game with on Sunday.

I concede the money is good for the franchises but you just know that should Waitakere win, the gloating and carry-on about who's the greatest will be just unbearable. Auckland City have been pretty good about there success. The actual club representatives are very down-to-earth and almost humble with the amount of success they have had in the last three years.

I think their pretty much the fijian national team.

I'm still going along.

PS Norwich me boy, I agree with most of what you say re, the immigrant community. But that is NZ football all the way through, it's a big part of the prejudice against Central/Auckland and all the way through the sport - rugby heads have always scorned football for being a Pommy game for girls.

Blatter isn't looking to dump us. Don't believe all the bullsh&t Terry writes in the Herald.

Daikiwi, you are right that people at the highest level need to be getting out into the communities and doing the PR. Trouble is you get guys like Uncle Rex who upset the Japanese dignitaries at the NZFC grand final. When you hear about this happening it's no wonder we just go round and round in circles. There are very few clubs/franchises capable of doing the right things.

hey guys, i understand that club loyalty runs strong amoungst all of us and it's great to see so much passion for who we support, but let's get to the game to support waitak, yes danny hay and all.

I would also recommend that everyone send emails and letters to the usual press outlets to try and get some journalists there. From what some soucrs are saying there could be a fair few thousand people turning up, with big support expected form theauckland Fijian community too. It'd be nice to see some NZ football footage with a big crowd for once on the news.

absolutely.  the game is being shown live on sky sport (but don't let that stop you from turning up)