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Huawei Wellington United Phoenix Academy Football School of Excellence - WeeNix

2435 replies · 532,264 views
3 months ago
https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixAcad/status/2056528559905427551
Two players to watch out for in the future Ben Trenberth and Jack Clegg both 15. I've already heard good things about Ben Trenberth seems like he might be the next big prospect but probably won't see him get called into the first team til 27/28 season at least.
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Endorsed by
coochieeYoungHeartHM
3 months ago
That Trenberth turn for the first goal 🤌

Give them time though. You'd think based off that evidence they'd be strong candidates for the U17 World Cup in 6 months time (and probably again for the 2027 version).
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about 1 month ago
https://theniche-cache.com/football/2026/7/21/aotearoa-domestic-football-roundup-july-21

The task for Napier City Rovers is now a simple one: win their last four games and they’ll be champions of the Central League for the first time since 2018. No reason to think they can’t since they’re already on a four-game winning streak following a 2-1 triumph away to the Wellington Phoenix Reserves.

Mac Munro put the Ressies ahead after 33 minutes but Caleb Hunt tied things up right before HT (45+1’) to mess with the team talk vibes. Close game, not much between them, great effort from the WeeNix lads... but Jacob Fenton scored in the 85th minute to give Rovers the victory and keep them top of the table with four rounds left. That’s seven games without a win for the WeeNix.

Preseason training for the A-League team has started so they might be stretched thinner than usual from here on out, particularly with a heavy contingent also currently in the NZ U16s squad that’s over in Papua New Guinea. Cailean Hamilton made his first CL appearance of the year in this match. He’s the 32nd different player used by the Nix Reserves in the 2026 Central League.
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Endorsed by
Bullion
about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History
wilbaker wrote:
Two players to watch out for in the future Ben Trenberth and Jack Clegg both 15. I've already heard good things about Ben Trenberth seems like he might be the next big prospect but probably won't see him get called into the first team til 27/28 season at least.
Nice to see Clegg on the scoresheet for our OFC U16 win over Fiji.

Edit: Just saw that Trenbrerth got the Golden Ball award for the tournament as well.
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Endorsed by
PKSouthernix
24 days ago · edited 24 days ago · History
That’s surprising, I’d heard rumours the men’s first team was off to China for some pre-season friendlies but nothing about us sending age group players as well.
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23 days ago · edited 23 days ago · History
RR wrote:
Nix have sent an u17 side to China for a tournament?

https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
 
Screenshot_20260805_192937_Instagram.jpg 463.59 KB
Competing team list that I had for this. Was a few weeks old, so may have been adjusted slightly.

• Wellington Phoenix
• Nottingham Forest
• Hertha BSC
• AJ Auxerre
• Red Star Belgrade
• China U17
• Ghana representative
• Daejeon Hana Citizen
• Buriram United


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Endorsed by
Bullion
23 days ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
 RR wrote:
Nix have sent an u17 side to China for a tournament?

https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
 
Screenshot_20260805_192937_Instagram.jpg 463.59 KB
Competing team list that I had for this. Was a few weeks old, so may have been adjusted slightly.

• Wellington Phoenix
• Nottingham Forest
• Hertha BSC
• AJ Auxerre
• Red Star Belgrade
• China U17
• Ghana representative
• Daejeon Hana Citizen
• Buriram United



Really diverse set of academies there, will be a good test for the kids

yung thug

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Endorsed by
PKWanderingSheep
22 days ago
Joey Johns wrote:
 YoungHeartHM wrote:
 RR wrote:
Nix have sent an u17 side to China for a tournament?

https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
https://x.com/NFFCAcademy/status/2084619612579049945
 
Screenshot_20260805_192937_Instagram.jpg 463.59 KB
Competing team list that I had for this. Was a few weeks old, so may have been adjusted slightly.

• Wellington Phoenix
• Nottingham Forest
• Hertha BSC
• AJ Auxerre
• Red Star Belgrade
• China U17
• Ghana representative
• Daejeon Hana Citizen
• Buriram United



 
Really diverse set of academies there, will be a good test for the kids
100% - I would love to see stuff like this happen on a more regular basis. 

That's easier said than done given costs/logistics involved with something like this, but from what I've seen the tournament organizers have heavily subsidized the involvement of all teams, so that is obviously a welcome start. 

Five games across a couple of weeks against a good range of opponents from around the globe, so hopefully the lads can do us proud over there.
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Endorsed by
BrPK
20 days ago · edited 20 days ago · History
Squad list for the tournament.
Screenshot_20260808_201805_Samsung Browser.jpg 175.02 KB
Screenshot_20260808_201838_Samsung Browser.jpg 134.52 KB
Missed the start and the first goal for Daejeon, and there's no playback option in the feed, but it's quite the setting up there in Guangdong.

Quite a hot night too - Just a casual 34°C with a 'feels like' index of 42°C - You're a long way from Wellington tonight lads!
Screenshot_20260808_235938_Samsung Browser.jpg 776.3 KB
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20 days ago · edited 20 days ago · History
Far better this second half from the kids, and lots more opportunities coming our way. 

First Willem des Tombe strikes high and wide after being played in behind on a 1v1 chance before Cailean Hamilton hits a lovely strike from the right hand side just out of the box and it nestles into the bottom left hand corner to bring it back to 2-1.
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20 days ago
Nah was home last night with the kids and a movie on one screen and footy on another. 

I don't work weekends anymore either. 😂

Lads played well given they were off the 12 hour flight some 48 hours earlier. First half was a bit flat, but understandable with the heat. Still created a few chances throughout too - Willem des Tombe notably with a couple of skied efforts with the target begging to at least be hit. The live stream was also better than any coverage that has come from the national league back here this season too, so at least it was watchable!

Four more games to go, starting with Guangdong tonight.
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Endorsed by
coochiee
20 days ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
Nah was home last night with the kids and a movie on one screen and footy on another. 

I don't work weekends anymore either. 😂

Lads played well given they were off the 12 hour flight some 48 hours earlier. First half was a bit flat, but understandable with the heat. Still created a few chances throughout too - Willem des Tombe notably with a couple of skied efforts with the target begging to at least be hit. The live stream was also better than any coverage that has come from the national league back here this season too, so at least it was watchable!

Four more games to go, starting with Guangdong tonight.
Can you post the link if you have it please.

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20 days ago · edited 20 days ago · History
Wonder if the Nix are using this tourney, to help decide on a few scholarship spots for the senior ALM squad?

Also got the OFC U-19 Men's Tourney to be held in Samoa from the September 1st-14th. Will no doubt include a big number of Weenix players.
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20 days ago · edited 20 days ago · History
MetalLegNZ wrote:
 YoungHeartHM wrote:
Nah was home last night with the kids and a movie on one screen and footy on another. 

I don't work weekends anymore either. 😂

Lads played well given they were off the 12 hour flight some 48 hours earlier. First half was a bit flat, but understandable with the heat. Still created a few chances throughout too - Willem des Tombe notably with a couple of skied efforts with the target begging to at least be hit. The live stream was also better than any coverage that has come from the national league back here this season too, so at least it was watchable!

Four more games to go, starting with Guangdong tonight.
Can you post the link if you have it please.



Last night's game (replay)
https://m.woshiqiuxing.cn/ukicker/livedetail?matchType=3&matchId=515645&liveId=108180&time=1786191016986

Tonight's game (8pm kickoff NZST)
https://m.woshiqiuxing.cn/ukicker/livedetail?matchId=515649&matchType=3

Make sure your Google translate is turned on so you get to the right place.
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20 days ago
coochiee wrote:
Wonder if the Nix are using this tourney, to help decide on a few scholarship spots for the senior ALM squad?

Also got the OFC U-19 Men's Tourney to be held in Samoa from the September 1st-14th. Will no doubt include a big number of Weenix players.
I'd imagine this tournament will be more useful for the U17 cohort who are off to Qatar in about 3 months for their world cup. Will be a big Phoenix contingent in that squad you'd think.
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19 days ago
2-0 to Guangdong at H/T.
Not much to write home about that first half - They were all over us, ball moment was quicker and they were lightning going forward on the counter.

Our fellas look dead tired in comparison. But I guess that's part of the experience for the lads playing in unfamiliar conditions and unknown environments. Hopefully there's a better second half showing in store.
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19 days ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
2-0 to Guangdong at H/T.
Not much to write home about that first half - They were all over us, ball moment was quicker and they were lightning going forward on the counter.

Our fellas look dead tired in comparison. But I guess that's part of the experience for the lads playing in unfamiliar conditions and unknown environments. Hopefully there's a better second half showing in store.
It's a bit of a quick change in conditions from the Hutt Valley to Southern China in their summer...not a lot of time to acclimatise 
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19 days ago
Bradman99 wrote:
 YoungHeartHM wrote:
2-0 to Guangdong at H/T.
Not much to write home about that first half - They were all over us, ball moment was quicker and they were lightning going forward on the counter.

Our fellas look dead tired in comparison. But I guess that's part of the experience for the lads playing in unfamiliar conditions and unknown environments. Hopefully there's a better second half showing in store.
It's a bit of a quick change in conditions from the Hutt Valley to Southern China in their summer...not a lot of time to acclimatise 
Yeah it's all part of the experience, and good practice for those who will find themselves in Qatar at the U17 World Cup in a few months.

Energy levels were probably not aided by having finished their first game less than 24 hours earlier either, but it is what it is.

Thoroughly enjoying having some club football to follow along to though. Would be really good to see more of these competitions for us in the future too 
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Endorsed by
Half a PintSimon B
9 days ago · edited 9 days ago · History
https://www.transfermarkt.com/jiovanny-mora/profil/spieler/1150837

Jiovanny Mora, attacking midfielder age 20 (USA/Mexico) has joined the academy team now. Something different, an academy foreign player. I wonder, why? 
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9 days ago
How did the rest of their games go?
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9 days ago
PKB wrote:
https://www.transfermarkt.com/jiovanny-mora/profil/spieler/1150837

Jiovanny Mora, attacking midfielder age 20 (USA/Mexico) has joined the academy team now. Something different, an academy foreign player. I wonder, why? 
Been here a couple months now. Played in the Cinicnnati academy under current Weenix head coach Joshua Neff. Think he’s just adding a punch to a very young, very inexperienced side
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Endorsed by
PKSouthernix
9 days ago
mrsmiis wrote:
 PKB wrote:
https://www.transfermarkt.com/jiovanny-mora/profil/spieler/1150837

Jiovanny Mora, attacking midfielder age 20 (USA/Mexico) has joined the academy team now. Something different, an academy foreign player. I wonder, why? 
Been here a couple months now. Played in the Cinicnnati academy under current Weenix head coach Joshua Neff. Think he’s just adding a punch to a very young, very inexperienced side
on transfermarkt it looks like he left Cincinnati 2 years ago...not sure how reliable transfermarkt is good at picking up youth transfers.
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