From that Stuff article
Responding to Dome’s suggestion it was "nonsensical" for Christchurch United to have scored higher than them, Edwards was focused on the bigger picture.
Responding to Dome’s suggestion it was "nonsensical" for Christchurch United to have scored higher than them, Edwards was focused on the bigger picture.
“What we were told from the very outset was that this is not a league about New Zealand. It's a league for developing professional football in the islands and New Zealand just happens to be part of that process.
“This isn't about us. It's about what we can do in that space, hence our collaborations with Solomon Islands and the Vanuatu Federation as part of this process – we want to be genuinely helping the island communities.
“It is also about growing football in regions that don't have it. (The) 1.2 million population of the South Island doesn't have pro football, so, obviously, they are hitting their purpose for why they put this league in place by giving us a place.
“I saw in (the Phoenix’s statement last Friday) that they talked about what their club is and what they've provided.
“I'd say Slava has started his academy in 2014 and merged it with Christchurch United in 2016 and has spent 10 years slowly chipping away with a lot of investment. He’s built these amazing facilities. We have an academy from age four – soon to be from age two – all the way up to the senior first team.
“We've had a go at the women's game, and we are going to push into the women's game in the future, but we are a massive club with a full academy structure and we have a long history in the game.
“We put a very strong case together for our bid, so we are 100% there on merit.”