Nice to hear will have a big Kiwi cohort from the get go.
So you'd think the 13 or so signed (including any scholarships) to date would come mostly from likes of -
Woud, Francis de Vries, Elliot, Nikko Boxall, Tommy Smith, Raj, Campbell Strong, Corban Piper, Howieson, Luis Toomey, Jessie Randall, Stipe Ukich, Liam Gillon, Champness, Rojas, Bevan etc
See that Nikko Boxall has turned up at Eastern Suburbs in the Northern League. Piper scored a great goal on the weekend for Birkenhead, against ES.
Note some confidence on their fans FB page that they have signed Zawada. Would disappoint Nix fans if so, but would be great news for the derby games hype. Our own little Luis Figo situation.
The rumours do make some sense. We know he likes NZ & the ALM. Auckland can sign him as a marquee and pay him big wages, plus they know he would be great marketing on several levels.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/football-likely-dates-revealed-for-historic-first-a-league-clash-between-auckland-fc-and-wellington-phoenix/UCRHKDJ37BFADBYHQJ7L2NFQV4/
They have yet to officially announce any players but are believed to have signed around 13, with the majority from New Zealand.
So you'd think the 13 or so signed (including any scholarships) to date would come mostly from likes of -
Woud, Francis de Vries, Elliot, Nikko Boxall, Tommy Smith, Raj, Campbell Strong, Corban Piper, Howieson, Luis Toomey, Jessie Randall, Stipe Ukich, Liam Gillon, Champness, Rojas, Bevan etc
See that Nikko Boxall has turned up at Eastern Suburbs in the Northern League. Piper scored a great goal on the weekend for Birkenhead, against ES.
Note some confidence on their fans FB page that they have signed Zawada. Would disappoint Nix fans if so, but would be great news for the derby games hype. Our own little Luis Figo situation.
The rumours do make some sense. We know he likes NZ & the ALM. Auckland can sign him as a marquee and pay him big wages, plus they know he would be great marketing on several levels.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/football-likely-dates-revealed-for-historic-first-a-league-clash-between-auckland-fc-and-wellington-phoenix/UCRHKDJ37BFADBYHQJ7L2NFQV4/
They have yet to officially announce any players but are believed to have signed around 13, with the majority from New Zealand.
“We are in a good place, in terms of players,” said Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn.
Talks are ongoing with a number of targets, including several prominent All Whites.
Coach Steve Corica and McFlynn travelled to Cairo in March, to watch New Zealand’s matches against Egypt and Tunisia.
They also had meetings with almost every player there, staying in the same hotel.
“Whether they join us in year one, year two or year three - or they don’t - it is about building connections and being transparent about what we want to do,” McFlynn told the Herald. “Nothing has been ruled out with a lot of players.”
McFlynn declined to specify any individuals - “We are quietly going about our business and being respectful of conversations behind closed doors” - but as previously reported by the Herald, the likes of Marco Rojas, Bill Tuiloma and Michael Boxall remain prime targets.
On a local level, Corica and McFlynn have been focused on spreading the gospel and establishing relationships, as they watch games and training sessions at clubs all across the city, as well as some school matches.
“It is about getting out there and seeing who is doing what, how and why,” said McFlynn. “We are getting around, seeing as much football as we can. Everybody has been very open, very receptive.”
“The feeling we have from the clubs is that Auckland as a city has been crying out for a professional team for years. So we have to work with the football community, in terms of members, supporters, fans, sponsors, corporates and talent. It’s all there within the football community so we want to work together.”