Tonight to me also shows there is an appetite for watching professional football in Auckland, when you get the location right.
A real positive NZ Football story for me would be an Auckland A League bid, with all the local clubs pulling together and putting petty selfish squabbles aside. Sure there is a myriad of challenges, but it should be on the table.
As Rudan alludes to the game has real potential in NZ, but a lack of ambition, plus selfish short sided attitudes keep holding it back.
I hope FIFA extends the CWC to a 4 year cycle. That may force ACFC esp to think a little differently. Dominating the Handy Prem will seem pretty dull after awhile, without the CWC carrot.
Hopefully the cleanout at NZF, brings in some good ambitious people. Maybe foreigners like Rudan, that just don’t care about petty domestic squabbles.
I’d also like to see Rudan himself (if he stays around) get invited to AWs/U20s camps/games when doesn’t clash with Nix commitments. What young A League coach, wouldn’t want exposure to international football. Again getting NZF working more closely with the Nix. Anyone at NZF resistant to that should be sacked on the spot.