Christchurch United already offer a residency programme. Albeit relatively small scale (numbers from 10-15 spaces).
Their first 'intake' was beginning/middle of last year. So they're further ahead of the curve than most people think. You have to applaud them for that to be fair.
Again the ChCh United bid was apparently impressive, and it's clearly been a big ambition of theirs getting into this league. Their main focus even, for the last 12 odd months. For now this OFC League seems the perfect fit for Meyn's dreams. He has openly said he on his own can't afford to setup an A League club.
AFC apparently employed some sort of outside contractor to draft up their bid document, ie they spent some coin on a professional submission.
As with YH it always seemed that the Nix weren't hugely invested in their bid, more afraid and unsure of what it might mean for the future, if their A League rivals up the road got in.
I mean one club has obviously invested very heavily in their ALW squad in the last few months, the other club doesn't even have an ALW staff member (more an APL issue). Even the well resourced and monied Estonians may have struggled to balance everything, if say right now they were furiously busy starting a womens team from scratch.
Yep- that’s right the AFC bid could do flashy transitions on PowerPoint and mentioned how Becker worked extensively with City Football Group. Professional! Nice suits.
I dunno there seems to be a section of AFC who seem to think doing the Nix down at every opportunity is the way to go. It’s bizarre the only engagement we’ve had from new AFC fans on this forum for instance.
Look, there's a section of AFC fans who seem to think it's a good idea to try to stalk and harass other AFC fans from coming to the football (T-AFC). It's real boy's high-school stuff (disclaimer: I didn't go to a boy's high school, I'm going off popular report lol)
I’d like to think there’s also a quiet majority of AFC fans who just want to enjoy the football and see their team win fair and square on the pitch - and who recognise that having a local rival makes things a lot more fun and interesting. Which doesn’t excuse the dickhead minority of course.
Having had the unexpected good luck to be at both games, there WAS a big gap between AFC and the Nix, and not just that AFC lost by fewer goals. Like WSW, AFC looked the better team for much of the game, and had Heidelberg pinned in their penalty area - everyone back - for much of the second half.
But Heidelberg aren't just a good passing team; they are outstanding on the counterattack, with three fast skilful forwards, and could even have had another goal near the end. IMO, they simply outplayed the Nix, but beat better sides, in AFC and less so WSW, on the counterattack.
Based on the two performances, AFC looked competition ready; the Nix didn't. ballane
imanixsupporter
The Nix could be in trouble? What do you call the mess the Nix is currently in? Be prepared for AFC to even further demonstrate the already massive chasm between the teams in about 10 minutes time
This ofc league seems a bit stupid from the start.
- only 2 nz teams allowed. Why? Why not 3? Or even 4? Based on population of Oceania it deserves more teams. - Why is an Australian team even involved???
It just feels so random to me. Like some people at ofc have thought... okay 2 nz teams. Lets go with...One south, one north...
So their pitch was South Island! We don’t know how…um, because because … they’re gonna tell us what they want…it’s about them… and we’ve got some friends from Vanuatu! We gave them shirts.
So FIFA cash yes?
Does that summarise the article correctly? It’s best for players to be closer to home, like Invercargill and Vanuatu?
Very cynical take. You can criticise or dislike Christchurch Uniteds money and funding all you like but the fact is that the South Island has been crying out for this pathway and they have done absolutely fantastic development work for a club their size with the facilities, coaching, youth academy system, etc.
Think you are cherry-picking by hyperfocusing on Invercargill and Vanuatu.
Yeh. Was in that kind of mood. But the Nix through their academy and first team have clearly achieved things for South Island players. The idea that a submission of ‘choose us and we’ll figure it out later’ is better than the facilities at NZCIS available to academy and reserve players is equally weak.
The point about the airport is that flights TO Christchurch can easily be approaching $200 from around the South Island. It’s a 6 hour drive Christchurch to Queenstown. Wellington is as close to Nelson (and the top of the South Island) as Christchurch is by car, including the ferry! It’s equally cynical to say a Nelson kid is better off in Christchurch because it’s closer to home.
It's not just about distance - Nelson is closer to Christchurch in cultural and social terms. In a football context, they're in Mainland Football. Nelson players have regularly popped up in Canterbury Utd Dragons/Pride teams too.
PS the ferry is a massive hassle and also expensive. As someone who did the Chch-Nelson drive and the Nelson-Wgtn drive fairly recently, I can tell you the latter was a much longer day.
Anyway, it's not necessarily that they're better off in Christchurch, but it opens another opportunity. Surely having more pro pathways is good, right? The Nix academy isn't going to stop being a decent pathway because they didn't get into this league.
This ofc league seems a bit stupid from the start.
- only 2 nz teams allowed. Why? Why not 3? Or even 4? Based on population of Oceania it deserves more teams. - Why is an Australian team even involved???
It just feels so random to me. Like some people at ofc have thought... okay 2 nz teams. Lets go with...One south, one north...
Only 2 NZ teams because the ultimate priority of this league is professional football in the Pacific. Fiji, PNG, Solomons, etc. need the professional pathways, we don't, but NZ and Aus teams are there to increase the quality and financial backing/stability.
The Nix could be in trouble? What do you call the mess the Nix is currently in? Be prepared for AFC to even further demonstrate the already massive chasm between the teams in about 10 minutes time
This ofc league seems a bit stupid from the start.
- only 2 nz teams allowed. Why? Why not 3? Or even 4? Based on population of Oceania it deserves more teams. - Why is an Australian team even involved???
It just feels so random to me. Like some people at ofc have thought... okay 2 nz teams. Lets go with...One south, one north...
So their pitch was South Island! We don’t know how…um, because because … they’re gonna tell us what they want…it’s about them… and we’ve got some friends from Vanuatu! We gave them shirts.
So FIFA cash yes?
Does that summarise the article correctly? It’s best for players to be closer to home, like Invercargill and Vanuatu?
Very cynical take. You can criticise or dislike Christchurch Uniteds money and funding all you like but the fact is that the South Island has been crying out for this pathway and they have done absolutely fantastic development work for a club their size with the facilities, coaching, youth academy system, etc.
Think you are cherry-picking by hyperfocusing on Invercargill and Vanuatu.
Yeh. Was in that kind of mood. But the Nix through their academy and first team have clearly achieved things for South Island players. The idea that a submission of ‘choose us and we’ll figure it out later’ is better than the facilities at NZCIS available to academy and reserve players is equally weak.
The point about the airport is that flights TO Christchurch can easily be approaching $200 from around the South Island. It’s a 6 hour drive Christchurch to Queenstown. Wellington is as close to Nelson (and the top of the South Island) as Christchurch is by car, including the ferry! It’s equally cynical to say a Nelson kid is better off in Christchurch because it’s closer to home.
It's not just about distance - Nelson is closer to Christchurch in cultural and social terms. In a football context, they're in Mainland Football. Nelson players have regularly popped up in Canterbury Utd Dragons/Pride teams too.
PS the ferry is a massive hassle and also expensive. As someone who did the Chch-Nelson drive and the Nelson-Wgtn drive fairly recently, I can tell you the latter was a much longer day.
Anyway, it's not necessarily that they're better off in Christchurch, but it opens another opportunity. Surely having more pro pathways is good, right? The Nix academy isn't going to stop being a decent pathway because they didn't get into this league.
Sure, I’m happy to have Christchurch in, but this typical OFC BS process excluding the Nix is simply wrong. It’s not a matter of welcoming Christchurch, it’s deliberately excluding the Nix.
The point being missed is that the winner of this league stands to gain a significant financial windfall. It is exceptionally unfair that the Nix almost alone of clubs in the entire world of football is excluded, especially as the Nix owners have been supporting and struggling for professional football in Oceania for 19 years. And it’s hard to argue that A FC need more cash funneled their way.
If there’s some profit sharing arrangement so that it’s not just about funneling money to a particular concern then it’s less of a worry.
It is also unfair to have developed a great academy and then those players have zero chance of playing in the Club World.
The ownership group has been okay with losing some money, but I’m sure they won’t be happy with OFC saying- okay you guys keep that academy going with your own millions, just keep it coming, while we start a competitor over here with FIFA cash. Also they’re told, you’re unprofessional. That’s hardly a thank you, huh.
Interesting opinion but there is one thing that makes me rarely uncomfortable and is a bullshark statement for me " and we’ve introduced more OFC players to professional football than anyone else in the region." Come on we havnt been that proactive in that area and hate how him and Domey have tried to make it a big deal as if we have introduced heaps of players.
Strictly speaking it's true as all the NZ talent going through the club, are yes OFC players. Bit of artistic licence. Certainly I don't think their community engagement is 'unrivalled'.
I mean CU appear to have done more n the last 12 months to foster links to the rest of the OFC, than the Nix have done in 17 years. For sure CU's motivation to do that clearly driven by the ambition to enter the OFC League. Still they have gone out and done the networking.
That article contains lots of info on why the Nix think they should be in the league. Fair enough they are hurting and disappointed, but it's sort of inward looking only.
Maybe having CU & AFC in the comp is just the best outcome for the OFC League itself, ie simply what's best for the new league, which is rightly what the selection committee would have been focussing on. The Sth Island being a region without pro football, new commercial opportunities blah blah. Auckland such a hub for the Pacific, OFC headquarters, blah blah.
Granted the OFC not sharing the club selection metrics, makes it hard for the Nix to see how they measured up against the successful bids.
A statement from the OFC that expansion after Season One will be considered, wouldn't be a bad thing. Though think I read somewhere the league will be capped at only 8 teams, for first couple of years??
I notice in Domes recent interview with Pine, he pivoted away from saying that the Nix were the biggest private investor in Oceania and referred only to NZ.
I know this is a sensitive subject in today’s PC world, but getting the trumpet out about the women’s team doesn’t really wash and is irrelevant.
1: This is a men’s competition and not a women’s.
2: Given how many question marks there are about this men’s competition surviving, best case scenario if it survives we are still likely a decade away from a similar woman’s competition.
Whilst it is the PC Card to play, it is very much irrelevant.
Strictly speaking it's true as all the NZ talent going through the club, are yes OFC players. Bit of artistic licence. Certainly I don't think their community engagement is 'unrivalled'.
I mean CU appear to have done more n the last 12 months to foster links to the rest of the OFC, than the Nix have done in 17 years. For sure CU's motivation to do that clearly driven by the ambition to enter the OFC League. Still they have gone out and done the networking.
That article contains lots of info on why the Nix think they should be in the league. Fair enough they are hurting and disappointed, but it's sort of inward looking only.
Maybe having CU & AFC in the comp is just the best outcome for the OFC League itself, ie simply what's best for the new league, which is rightly what the selection committee would have been focussing on. The Sth Island being a region without pro football, new commercial opportunities blah blah. Auckland such a hub for the Pacific, OFC headquarters, blah blah.
Granted the OFC not sharing the club selection metrics, makes it hard for the Nix to see how they measured up against the successful bids.
A statement from the OFC that expansion after Season One will be considered, wouldn't be a bad thing. Though think I read somewhere the league will be capped at only 8 teams, for first couple of years??
Are you aware of the work the Phoenix do in the community they do a lot more and spend a lot more than most people are aware of. Its not in the media because most media have shown a complete disinterest in the story. As for the players yes a massive "artistic licence" by numbers of OFC players yes there have been a few. But im sure you are as aware as im am that when it comes to the Island nations players there have been very few.
Admit im a one eyed Phoenix fan but i just dont get how people can be okay with one A League club being given a chance while the other is shut out of any chance of getting to the CWC. Whats so wrong with the Phoenix or someone associated with them putting through some of the reasons they should have been included. Because they sure as hell stack up against any Auckland can provide. Then again i suppose having Billionaires on board counts for double points. Because it sure as hell cant have anything to do with their player development.
The Nix should rightly be very proud of their investment in the women's game. And for this season they seem to have gone all in on the ALW team, and you really hope they can win the league. Would be a huge filip for the club. Cross fingers that does happen, and Domey and the club will be very happy.
But yes you are right for the moment that is of little relevance to this OFC League starting out. Plenty of noise that this new league may not survive long. Walk before you can run and all that. Make sure it is sustainable before looking to add to it with a women's comp. Even the ALW 's survival seems a bit fragile at the moment.
Raise the level of women's football in the OFC first through investment in coaching, more girls in various Island academies etc. For now many of the women's OFC teams can be a very hard, low quality watch. The gap between the Ferns and the OFC teams, still feels wider than the AWs and OFC men's teams. That needs to improve first before any pro or semi pro league womens setup. Though hopefully it does happen faster than say 10 years away.
Strictly speaking it's true as all the NZ talent going through the club, are yes OFC players. Bit of artistic licence. Certainly I don't think their community engagement is 'unrivalled'.
I mean CU appear to have done more n the last 12 months to foster links to the rest of the OFC, than the Nix have done in 17 years. For sure CU's motivation to do that clearly driven by the ambition to enter the OFC League. Still they have gone out and done the networking.
That article contains lots of info on why the Nix think they should be in the league. Fair enough they are hurting and disappointed, but it's sort of inward looking only.
Maybe having CU & AFC in the comp is just the best outcome for the OFC League itself, ie simply what's best for the new league, which is rightly what the selection committee would have been focussing on. The Sth Island being a region without pro football, new commercial opportunities blah blah. Auckland such a hub for the Pacific, OFC headquarters, blah blah.
Granted the OFC not sharing the club selection metrics, makes it hard for the Nix to see how they measured up against the successful bids.
A statement from the OFC that expansion after Season One will be considered, wouldn't be a bad thing. Though think I read somewhere the league will be capped at only 8 teams, for first couple of years??
Are you aware of the work the Phoenix do in the community they do a lot more and spend a lot more than most people are aware of. Its not in the media because most media have shown a complete disinterest in the story. As for the players yes a massive "artistic licence" by numbers of OFC players yes there have been a few. But im sure you are as aware as im am that when it comes to the Island nations players there have been very few.
Admit im a one eyed Phoenix fan but i just dont get how people can be okay with one A League club being given a chance while the other is shut out of any chance of getting to the CWC. Whats so wrong with the Phoenix or someone associated with them putting through some of the reasons they should have been included. Because they sure as hell stack up against any Auckland can provide. Then again i suppose having Billionaires on board counts for double points. Because it sure as hell cant have anything to do with their player development.
But it's not the job of the OFC (or the selection committee who chose the successful bids) to decide whatever is fair re qualification to the CWC.
Their job was to pick the entrants that they think are the best fit for this new OFC Pro League. That's their sole scope. So that's what they have supposedly done, for a league that is going to face alot of challenges to survive.
The CWC is basically a FIFA issue.
Now should OFC share the club selection measurement results with the Nix? Probably.
But then if the Nix get access to that info, do they then lawyer up as in their opinion the results say they should have been included?? The last thing OFC want is for all the goodwill about this new league, to be potentially derailed by a legal sideshow mess, that threatens to overshadow everything.
So their pitch was South Island! We don’t know how…um, because because … they’re gonna tell us what they want…it’s about them… and we’ve got some friends from Vanuatu! We gave them shirts.
So FIFA cash yes?
Does that summarise the article correctly? It’s best for players to be closer to home, like Invercargill and Vanuatu?
Very cynical take. You can criticise or dislike Christchurch Uniteds money and funding all you like but the fact is that the South Island has been crying out for this pathway and they have done absolutely fantastic development work for a club their size with the facilities, coaching, youth academy system, etc.
Think you are cherry-picking by hyperfocusing on Invercargill and Vanuatu.
Yeh. Was in that kind of mood. But the Nix through their academy and first team have clearly achieved things for South Island players. The idea that a submission of ‘choose us and we’ll figure it out later’ is better than the facilities at NZCIS available to academy and reserve players is equally weak.
The point about the airport is that flights TO Christchurch can easily be approaching $200 from around the South Island. It’s a 6 hour drive Christchurch to Queenstown. Wellington is as close to Nelson (and the top of the South Island) as Christchurch is by car, including the ferry! It’s equally cynical to say a Nelson kid is better off in Christchurch because it’s closer to home.
It's not just about distance - Nelson is closer to Christchurch in cultural and social terms. In a football context, they're in Mainland Football. Nelson players have regularly popped up in Canterbury Utd Dragons/Pride teams too.
PS the ferry is a massive hassle and also expensive. As someone who did the Chch-Nelson drive and the Nelson-Wgtn drive fairly recently, I can tell you the latter was a much longer day.
Anyway, it's not necessarily that they're better off in Christchurch, but it opens another opportunity. Surely having more pro pathways is good, right? The Nix academy isn't going to stop being a decent pathway because they didn't get into this league.
Sure, I’m happy to have Christchurch in, but this typical OFC BS process excluding the Nix is simply wrong. It’s not a matter of welcoming Christchurch, it’s deliberately excluding the Nix.
The point being missed is that the winner of this league stands to gain a significant financial windfall. It is exceptionally unfair that the Nix almost alone of clubs in the entire world of football is excluded, especially as the Nix owners have been supporting and struggling for professional football in Oceania for 19 years. And it’s hard to argue that A FC need more cash funneled their way.
If there’s some profit sharing arrangement so that it’s not just about funneling money to a particular concern then it’s less of a worry.
It is also unfair to have developed a great academy and then those players have zero chance of playing in the Club World.
The ownership group has been okay with losing some money, but I’m sure they won’t be happy with OFC saying- okay you guys keep that academy going with your own millions, just keep it coming, while we start a competitor over here with FIFA cash. Also they’re told, you’re unprofessional. That’s hardly a thank you, huh.
No matter which of the three NZ clubs missed out, it was going to be unfair. Auckland: the richest bid and certainly best put-together one, it would have been a travesty if they weren't involved with one of the hubs of matches being in Auckland, and a massive Pacific population in the city. Christchurch: a place and island long overdue for professional football, with plenty of players who deserve an easier pathway than being forced to move their life to Wellington. They have/are also developing their facilities massively and are investing in the islands as a source of talent. Wellington: the best facilities in the country, with a good history of developing players and who have been for a long time the only professional club in the OFC.
We’ve got to remember that New Zealand is part of Oceania too. That’s a fact! NZ are often funding tournaments and other events for Oceania. The interests of New Zealand football are included in Oceania too. And if a footballer can come to New Zealand and then get picked up by a professional club elsewhere that’s a pathway.
It doesn’t mean every good player has all the attributes to make it away from home. That includes a strong enough passport to get a visa to play overseas. These are issues confederations and FIFA have to address.
New Zealand players often struggle in the team cultures overseas and PI players have similar issues. Homesickness and culture shock.
I heard a lot of talk about David Browne from PNG, but for one reason or another he didn’t quite make it. Krishna had an early trial in Holland iirc, but had visa issues.
I notice in Domes recent interview with Pine, he pivoted away from saying that the Nix were the biggest private investor in Oceania and referred only to NZ.
I know this is a sensitive subject in today’s PC world, but getting the trumpet out about the women’s team doesn’t really wash and is irrelevant.
1: This is a men’s competition and not a women’s.
2: Given how many question marks there are about this men’s competition surviving, best case scenario if it survives we are still likely a decade away from a similar woman’s competition.
Whilst it is the PC Card to play, it is very much irrelevant.
Well always good when dickheads are on the other side of the argument.
Oceania Football or Oceania Men’s Football? The confederation exists to promote all football. And this is clearly about more than just an isolated tournament.
And New Zealand are the largest richest nation in Oceania with the most facilities and players. Why would NZ considerations not matter?
Interesting opinion but there is one thing that makes me rarely uncomfortable and is a bullshark statement for me " and we’ve introduced more OFC players to professional football than anyone else in the region." Come on we havnt been that proactive in that area and hate how him and Domey have tried to make it a big deal as if we have introduced heaps of players.
well, you can't say the other bidders have a better record
So their pitch was South Island! We don’t know how…um, because because … they’re gonna tell us what they want…it’s about them… and we’ve got some friends from Vanuatu! We gave them shirts.
So FIFA cash yes?
Does that summarise the article correctly? It’s best for players to be closer to home, like Invercargill and Vanuatu?
Very cynical take. You can criticise or dislike Christchurch Uniteds money and funding all you like but the fact is that the South Island has been crying out for this pathway and they have done absolutely fantastic development work for a club their size with the facilities, coaching, youth academy system, etc.
Think you are cherry-picking by hyperfocusing on Invercargill and Vanuatu.
Yeh. Was in that kind of mood. But the Nix through their academy and first team have clearly achieved things for South Island players. The idea that a submission of ‘choose us and we’ll figure it out later’ is better than the facilities at NZCIS available to academy and reserve players is equally weak.
The point about the airport is that flights TO Christchurch can easily be approaching $200 from around the South Island. It’s a 6 hour drive Christchurch to Queenstown. Wellington is as close to Nelson (and the top of the South Island) as Christchurch is by car, including the ferry! It’s equally cynical to say a Nelson kid is better off in Christchurch because it’s closer to home.
It's not just about distance - Nelson is closer to Christchurch in cultural and social terms. In a football context, they're in Mainland Football. Nelson players have regularly popped up in Canterbury Utd Dragons/Pride teams too.
PS the ferry is a massive hassle and also expensive. As someone who did the Chch-Nelson drive and the Nelson-Wgtn drive fairly recently, I can tell you the latter was a much longer day.
Anyway, it's not necessarily that they're better off in Christchurch, but it opens another opportunity. Surely having more pro pathways is good, right? The Nix academy isn't going to stop being a decent pathway because they didn't get into this league.
Sure, I’m happy to have Christchurch in, but this typical OFC BS process excluding the Nix is simply wrong. It’s not a matter of welcoming Christchurch, it’s deliberately excluding the Nix.
The point being missed is that the winner of this league stands to gain a significant financial windfall. It is exceptionally unfair that the Nix almost alone of clubs in the entire world of football is excluded, especially as the Nix owners have been supporting and struggling for professional football in Oceania for 19 years. And it’s hard to argue that A FC need more cash funneled their way.
If there’s some profit sharing arrangement so that it’s not just about funneling money to a particular concern then it’s less of a worry.
It is also unfair to have developed a great academy and then those players have zero chance of playing in the Club World.
The ownership group has been okay with losing some money, but I’m sure they won’t be happy with OFC saying- okay you guys keep that academy going with your own millions, just keep it coming, while we start a competitor over here with FIFA cash. Also they’re told, you’re unprofessional. That’s hardly a thank you, huh.
No matter which of the three NZ clubs missed out, it was going to be unfair. Auckland: the richest bid and certainly best put-together one, it would have been a travesty if they weren't involved with one of the hubs of matches being in Auckland, and a massive Pacific population in the city. Christchurch: a place and island long overdue for professional football, with plenty of players who deserve an easier pathway than being forced to move their life to Wellington. They have/are also developing their facilities massively and are investing in the islands as a source of talent. Wellington: the best facilities in the country, with a good history of developing players and who have been for a long time the only professional club in the OFC.
So why is it designed that way? Why on earth if it is a genuine Oceania tournament, can’t there be 3 teams from the largest nation in the confederation, if it would be unfair to exclude one? Why do we have an Australian club that already has a route to the CWC given entry and NZ short changed?
This feels like something petty from someone somewhere.
I’m kinda confused about why so many Nix fans are siding with an organisation whose recent history has included two fraud or embezzlement convictions of its higher ups, let alone Charlie Dempsey and FIFA in general etc etc.
There’s feeling like the Nix had this coming. To me that sounds like BS. The Nix come out strong on this and we complain. How would we react if they took it lying down?
They were the only professional club in Oceania with no CWC access, and now Oceania has created a tournament only to shut them out. What is this everyone keeps saying about not being professional, or progressive or future thinking? You’ve seen all the bids then? What does that even mean?
The only way this keeps going is with funding. From FIFA or elsewhere. And if the Saudis keep up their level of funding in football and generosity across the world. Perhaps if Oceania helps FIFA continue to move the power away from Europe.
Or perhaps as Coochie keeps alluding to that this is part of anti-China soft power diplomacy, as FIFA gets closer to the US.
Who knows?
The funding dries up and the league dies too.
Where’s the progress in that? There’s very little individual clubs can do to keep the funding going, right?
in terms of the Nix helping out OFC footballers, ive done a little research and came up with the following:
The following countries have had A league players: Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Timor- Leste.
The nix had Roy Krishna obviously who is a club legend.. and Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori, who was at nix for one season. So thats 2 players.
To put it into perspective, the Central Coast Mariners have had 2 Brian Kaltak ( Vanuatu) & Brad Mcdonald (PNG), Newcastle Jets had 2 (A timor-Leste player & Mitch Cooper from Vanuatu).
Ultimately, there has been very few OFC players in the A League, and while the nix have had a couple, to say they've contributed to OFC seems like a strange take.. I would argue the nix could have utilised the talent in OFC more then what they did, as they were the only team in the region, and players like Brian Kaltak show they can make it in this level (pretty sure Roy Krishna was an established player for Waitekere united and Auckland city when Nix signed him)
in terms of the Nix helping out OFC footballers, ive done a little research and came up with the following:
The following countries have had A league players: Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Timor- Leste.
The nix had Roy Krishna obviously who is a club legend.. and Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori, who was at nix for one season. So thats 2 players.
To put it into perspective, the Central Coast Mariners have had 2 Brian Kaltak ( Vanuatu) & Brad Mcdonald (PNG), Newcastle Jets had 2 (A timor-Leste player & Mitch Cooper from Vanuatu).
Ultimately, there has been very few OFC players in the A League, and while the nix have had a couple, to say they've contributed to OFC seems like a strange take.. I would argue the nix could have utilised the talent in OFC more then what they did, as they were the only team in the region, and players like Brian Kaltak show they can make it in this level (pretty sure Roy Krishna was an established player for Waitekere united and Auckland city when Nix signed him)
Timor Leste is an AFC affiliated association since 2004
I don’t think the Nix could have utilised the Pacific islands much more. It’s the same for Kiwis overseas. No free passes. If you’re good enough and determined enough, we can help find a way.
Those other A league guys moved to Aussie or grew up there? Hall for example wanted/wants to play for Aussie right? Mitch Cooper was an Aussie underage international, yeh?
Let’s not forget- NZ is the biggest nation in the OFC. NZ qualifying for the 2010 WC came with the Phoenix coach and a lot of the players. The Ring of Fire popped because Wellington was the home of football. There’s no A FC without the Nix. Popularising and showing pro football is possible in NZ is important for Oceania.
And you’re spot on on Krishna. Best in the league. But it was still a jump to the A league.
my apologies on that, I also did miss Sotirio, who has been around the block a few times. Bullion
Nixieboys222
in terms of the Nix helping out OFC footballers, ive done a little research and came up with the following:
The following countries have had A league players: Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Timor- Leste.
The nix had Roy Krishna obviously who is a club legend.. and Solomon Islander Benjamin Totori, who was at nix for one season. So thats 2 players.
To put it into perspective, the Central Coast Mariners have had 2 Brian Kaltak ( Vanuatu) & Brad Mcdonald (PNG), Newcastle Jets had 2 (A timor-Leste player & Mitch Cooper from Vanuatu).
Ultimately, there has been very few OFC players in the A League, and while the nix have had a couple, to say they've contributed to OFC seems like a strange take.. I would argue the nix could have utilised the talent in OFC more then what they did, as they were the only team in the region, and players like Brian Kaltak show they can make it in this level (pretty sure Roy Krishna was an established player for Waitekere united and Auckland city when Nix signed him)
Timor Leste is an AFC affiliated association since 2004
This ofc league seems a bit stupid from the start.
- only 2 nz teams allowed. Why? Why not 3? Or even 4? Based on population of Oceania it deserves more teams. - Why is an Australian team even involved???
It just feels so random to me. Like some people at ofc have thought... okay 2 nz teams. Lets go with...One south, one north...
PNG has double NZ’s popn
But that doesn't mean that they will support their team. League is big there. And going by the assumption, AFC should have 50k at every home game as there's well over 1 million living there.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Of course not. League far and away the dominant (spectator) sport there. They go mad for it the Aussie PM Ministers XIII turns up there annually with all their NRL players.
Just pointing out NZ ain't the biggest country in OFC by popn.
And by the same logic Rugby is easily the dominant spectator & media profile sport in NZ.
I notice in Domes recent interview with Pine, he pivoted away from saying that the Nix were the biggest private investor in Oceania and referred only to NZ.
I know this is a sensitive subject in today’s PC world, but getting the trumpet out about the women’s team doesn’t really wash and is irrelevant.
1: This is a men’s competition and not a women’s.
2: Given how many question marks there are about this men’s competition surviving, best case scenario if it survives we are still likely a decade away from a similar woman’s competition.
Whilst it is the PC Card to play, it is very much irrelevant.
Just a note, when you want to say "being kind to people" but make it sound like a bad thing, the term used today is woke, not the very 90s "PC".
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
I notice in Domes recent interview with Pine, he pivoted away from saying that the Nix were the biggest private investor in Oceania and referred only to NZ.
I know this is a sensitive subject in today’s PC world, but getting the trumpet out about the women’s team doesn’t really wash and is irrelevant.
1: This is a men’s competition and not a women’s.
2: Given how many question marks there are about this men’s competition surviving, best case scenario if it survives we are still likely a decade away from a similar woman’s competition.
Whilst it is the PC Card to play, it is very much irrelevant.
Just a note, when you want to say "being kind to people" but make it sound like a bad thing, the term used today is woke, not the very 90s "PC".
I notice in Domes recent interview with Pine, he pivoted away from saying that the Nix were the biggest private investor in Oceania and referred only to NZ.
I know this is a sensitive subject in today’s PC world, but getting the trumpet out about the women’s team doesn’t really wash and is irrelevant.
1: This is a men’s competition and not a women’s.
2: Given how many question marks there are about this men’s competition surviving, best case scenario if it survives we are still likely a decade away from a similar woman’s competition.
Whilst it is the PC Card to play, it is very much irrelevant.
Just a note, when you want to say "being kind to people" but make it sound like a bad thing, the term used today is woke, not the very 90s "PC".
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
But also this is nothing about being kind.
Presumably it is the Oceania Football Confederation. They’re in charge of football, I assume including all kinds, men’s, women’s, futsal, blind, wheelchair subbuteo etc etc. It is literal experience of running another professional Oceania team. Just a female one.
And we don’t know how far away we are from any women’s tournament, but it would require outside money, chiefly, I imagine. Just as FIFA has ponyed up for this one. Anything in this region requires funding.
None of these things spread across this low GDP/high cost region are likely to be self sustaining any time soon as per the long running discussion on here.
The Phoenix club have been wonderful for NZ Football. From 2010 WC qualification, through to now with two ex Nix players Surman & Boxall captaining their respective teams in the same MLS game. Without the Nix so much that is now good about the game in NZ wouldn't have happened. But that's all just through a NZ lens.
What of the other 10 of which are OFC full members and two associate members?
Krishna and Totori. Kaltak at Wharfies. Raphael Le'ai's short stay (what has happened to him?) at the Academy. Struggling to think of much else really that the rest of the OFC countries have as a connection to the Nix.
When I look at the current academy pipeline, I see Loke (Malaysian background?), LBS (half Zimbawean) and GSR (Brazilian heritage). But then it's just a host of Pakeha kids, many I understand with that all too typical for NZ football, British background. Read about someone here once watching a Weenix CL game, and commenting that it seemed as if half the team had a UK accent!
Where are the Maori and Pasika kids?
Be interested to know what the Nix are doing in the community football space. I have no idea really. Are they doing coaching camps in your Poriruas, Wainuis, Taitas etc? Maybe they are doing heaps, but whatever reason none of the promising Maori/PI kids they see, ever make it to the Academy? Do the Nix offer any scholarships to kids from lower-socio backgrounds, whose folks can't afford the Academy fees? Be interested to know
At the end of the day the club ain't a charity, but I'll controversially throw it out there they do seem a very white organisation in a multicultural land. Certainly in a very multicultural OFC region. Like it or not this stuff doesn't go unnoticed
Auckland have a number of Maori/Pasika players in their ALM & Reserve teams. CU have their little Vanuatu MOU going on. Hope the Nix do soon get admitted to an expanded OFC League (providing it survives it's first per years), but the club might want to reflect on how they are possibly seen within the region.
PS. I remember the little heartwarming story from last year about a young Vanuatu kid who had been adopted by white Aussie parents at Gosford. He was playing football but felt sad as none of the other kids looked like him. Then his adoptive mother reached out to the Mariners who had Kaltak and Dan Hall. Hall with a Fijian background, also having adoptive white Aus parents.l. The little kid soo happy to find some ground ups, he could look up to being just like him. Basically role models of your same hue and similar background, very much matter to young kids.
The Phoenix club have been wonderful for NZ Football. From 2010 WC qualification, through to now with two ex Nix players Surman & Boxall captaining their respective teams in the same MLS game. Without the Nix so much that is now good about the game in NZ wouldn't have happened. But that's all just through a NZ lens.
What of the other 10 of which are OFC full members and two associate members?
Krishna and Totori. Kaltak at Wharfies. Raphael Le'ai's short stay (what has happened to him?) at the Academy. Struggling to think of much else really that the rest of the OFC countries have as a connection to the Nix.
When I look at the current academy pipeline, I see Loke (Malaysian background?), LBS (half Zimbawean) and GSR (Brazilian heritage). But then it's just a host of Pakeha kids, many I understand with that all too typical for NZ football, British background. Read about someone here once watching a Weenix CL game, and commenting that it seemed as if half the team had a UK accent!
Where are the Maori and Pasika kids?
Be interested to know what the Nix are doing in the community football space. I have no idea really. Are they doing coaching camps in your Poriruas, Wainuis, Taitas etc? Maybe they are doing heaps, but whatever reason none of the promising Maori/PI kids they see, ever make it to the Academy? Do the Nix offer any scholarships to kids from lower-socio backgrounds, whose folks can't afford the Academy fees? Be interested to know
At the end of the day the club ain't a charity, but I'll controversially throw it out there they do seem a very white organisation in a multicultural land. Certainly in a very multicultural OFC region. Like it or not this stuff doesn't go unnoticed
Auckland have a number of Maori/Pasika players in their ALM & Reserve teams. CU have their little Vanuatu MOU going on. Hope the Nix do soon get admitted to an expanded OFC League (providing it survives it's first per years), but the club might want to reflect on how they might be seen within the region.
PS. I remember the little heartwarming story from last year about a young Vanuatu kid who had been adopted by white Aussie parents at Gosford. He was playing football but felt sad as none of the other kids looked like him. Then his adoptive mother reached out to the Mariners who had Kaltak and Dan Hall. Hall with a Fijian background, also having adoptive white Aus parents.l. The little kid soo happy to find some ground ups, he could look up to being just like him. Basically role models of your same hue and similar background, very much matter to young kids.
Really interesting points especially regarding the lack of diversity in the academy.
I can imagine a big factor to this could be players with UK/European passports or families might get favoured by the club because it would be easier to secure them with future overseas deals in UK/Europe. Would lead to more payoff for investing in these players such as more/bigger academy success stories and more potential profit from sales.
This would likely not impress the OFC league selectors though who value building the wider OFC region as a whole and making a competitive league that isn't just an academy for other comps. AFC and CU have shown and committed to growing OFC football and being highly competitive in the league while the Nix were likely lacking in these areas despite being the original OFC pro team and a well run club with great facilities.
The Nix's contributions to OFC historically also seem more like trickle-down support which they are now trying to frame as long-term, direct support for these communities based on what Dome was saying which sounded a bit off-putting and entitled.
I'd be really keen for the Nix to invest more into building strong relationships with OFC regions and providing better pathways for Māori and Pasifika players to grow the game for these communities and build up OFC to be competitive at club and international level. Hopefully would also allow the OFC league to be successful and expand to include us and other teams in the future too.
The Phoenix club have been wonderful for NZ Football. From 2010 WC qualification, through to now with two ex Nix players Surman & Boxall captaining their respective teams in the same MLS game. Without the Nix so much that is now good about the game in NZ wouldn't have happened. But that's all just through a NZ lens.
What of the other 10 of which are OFC full members and two associate members?
Krishna and Totori. Kaltak at Wharfies. Raphael Le'ai's short stay (what has happened to him?) at the Academy. Struggling to think of much else really that the rest of the OFC countries have as a connection to the Nix.
When I look at the current academy pipeline, I see Loke (Malaysian background?), LBS (half Zimbawean) and GSR (Brazilian heritage). But then it's just a host of Pakeha kids, many I understand with that all too typical for NZ football, British background. Read about someone here once watching a Weenix CL game, and commenting that it seemed as if half the team had a UK accent!
Where are the Maori and Pasika kids?
Be interested to know what the Nix are doing in the community football space. I have no idea really. Are they doing coaching camps in your Poriruas, Wainuis, Taitas etc? Maybe they are doing heaps, but whatever reason none of the promising Maori/PI kids they see, ever make it to the Academy? Do the Nix offer any scholarships to kids from lower-socio backgrounds, whose folks can't afford the Academy fees? Be interested to know
At the end of the day the club ain't a charity, but I'll controversially throw it out there they do seem a very white organisation in a multicultural land. Certainly in a very multicultural OFC region. Like it or not this stuff doesn't go unnoticed
Auckland have a number of Maori/Pasika players in their ALM & Reserve teams. CU have their little Vanuatu MOU going on. Hope the Nix do soon get admitted to an expanded OFC League (providing it survives it's first per years), but the club might want to reflect on how they might be seen within the region.
PS. I remember the little heartwarming story from last year about a young Vanuatu kid who had been adopted by white Aussie parents at Gosford. He was playing football but felt sad as none of the other kids looked like him. Then his adoptive mother reached out to the Mariners who had Kaltak and Dan Hall. Hall with a Fijian background, also having adoptive white Aus parents.l. The little kid soo happy to find some ground ups, he could look up to being just like him. Basically role models of your same hue and similar background, very much matter to young kids.
kids from the ofc (and non nz nationals in general - not sure on aussies given freedom of movement between the 2 countries) can't register with a club in nz until 18 - if they've moved for football reasons. So not likely to see them in the academy. Le'ai was technically on a scholarship at Scots and training with the Nix but couldn't play for the academy teams as he was under 18 at the time, same for the other foreigners we've had in the academy. Loke has Singaporean background but is a NZer. The Nix have had scholarships, Singh and Mata are examples (those part funded by Winston Reid iirc), to come and train at the academy and go to Scots college - not sure on recent examples.
It seems interesting and funny to hear the Phoenix complaint but for how many year have they had right of passage to play in the national league when they struggled in the central league and had players in the national squad at all grades even when those player were not the best all because they were the only professional club in NZ. They coached the national teams so selected their own players. Now we have AFC which changed the game and are no longer top dog. Stop sulking, hire better coaches, recruit better players and do the hard work. Many teams have done it, look at AFC. First season and they have a trophy to show for it, what has Phoenix got to show after how many years?ballane
Interesting opinion but there is one thing that makes me rarely uncomfortable and is a bullshark statement for me " and we’ve introduced more OFC players to professional football than anyone else in the region." Come on we havnt been that proactive in that area and hate how him and Domey have tried to make it a big deal as if we have introduced heaps of players.
I can't see this league working in the format it's in. A better option would have been to follow the current OFC league structure and just make the teams all pro. Yes, it would have been dominated by NZ.. but having pro clubs in Fiji etc would help the game grow in those smaller countries.
The Phoenix have finished Central League in a spot that would have qualified them for the National League spot more often than not in recent memory as well.
They took some time to get there as was expected but it's a bit of a baseless gripe these days.
You disagreeing with the players that got selected for age group rep sides doesn't automatically mean nepotism is involved. That's a pretty hefty accusation that needs some backing up.
It could be as simple as there only being 2 spots available and they chose the best 2 of 3 bids. Let Dome release publicly their application so we can have a look. Maybe Ak and ChCh can do the same. Big risk fir Dome if it is obvious that his was a weak bid.ballane
coochiee
Strictly speaking it's true as all the NZ talent going through the club, are yes OFC players. Bit of artistic licence. Certainly I don't think their community engagement is 'unrivalled'.
I mean CU appear to have done more n the last 12 months to foster links to the rest of the OFC, than the Nix have done in 17 years. For sure CU's motivation to do that clearly driven by the ambition to enter the OFC League. Still they have gone out and done the networking.
That article contains lots of info on why the Nix think they should be in the league. Fair enough they are hurting and disappointed, but it's sort of inward looking only.
Maybe having CU & AFC in the comp is just the best outcome for the OFC League itself, ie simply what's best for the new league, which is rightly what the selection committee would have been focussing on. The Sth Island being a region without pro football, new commercial opportunities blah blah. Auckland such a hub for the Pacific, OFC headquarters, blah blah.
Granted the OFC not sharing the club selection metrics, makes it hard for the Nix to see how they measured up against the successful bids.
A statement from the OFC that expansion after Season One will be considered, wouldn't be a bad thing. Though think I read somewhere the league will be capped at only 8 teams, for first couple of years??
Are you aware of the work the Phoenix do in the community they do a lot more and spend a lot more than most people are aware of. Its not in the media because most media have shown a complete disinterest in the story. As for the players yes a massive "artistic licence" by numbers of OFC players yes there have been a few. But im sure you are as aware as im am that when it comes to the Island nations players there have been very few.
Admit im a one eyed Phoenix fan but i just dont get how people can be okay with one A League club being given a chance while the other is shut out of any chance of getting to the CWC. Whats so wrong with the Phoenix or someone associated with them putting through some of the reasons they should have been included. Because they sure as hell stack up against any Auckland can provide. Then again i suppose having Billionaires on board counts for double points. Because it sure as hell cant have anything to do with their player development.
