Archive for the ‘Updates’ Category
Slip, Slop, Slap
Although the opening group pool hasn’t been too kind to the team (an 18-1 drubbing by Costa Rica this morning) New Zealand are at least handling the blistering sunny days on Copacabana beach in a sensible way. Big thanks go out to The Cancer Society back home who have provided each team member with sun [...]
Brazil 7: NZ 3 : South Korea 0
After a bit of a thrashing in the morning game against Kenya- who are now firm favourites to go all the way to the final- New Zealand hit an afternoon roadblock in the shape of a South Korean team bolstered by top players from Brazil. Pre-tournament rules stipulated teams would have to travel with the [...]
So it begins…
Copacabana ground to a standstill for an hour this morning for an Opening Parade full of colourful songs and dancing. Aotearoa isn’t really known for extroverted and emotional displays- so it was a largely stony-faced Kiwi team that marched along the seafront in a sea of screaming Norwegian Vikings, Nacho Libre Mexican wrestlers, Namibian singers [...]
Eve of the Cup
Late at night on team New Zealand’s first full day in Rio and it’s fair to say it’s been a demanding one for everyone. The Homeless World Cup always relies heavily on the goodwill of volunteers and the support of the host city; even when everything is going brilliantly, it’s a game played perilously close [...]
Bom Dia!
We’ve arrived in Rio. It was a long and tough journey but everyone’s been incredibly patient and after a bit of sleep we’re in much better spirits. After a tiresome mix-up with accommodation at 2 in the morning we had a roof over our heads at the lovely Ace Hostel- Thanks Vanya! We’ll move to [...]
Rio Bound…
After three great days at OFC‘s Charles J. Dempsey Academy the squad have now left Auckland for Brazil and the 2010 Homeless World Cup. There was excitement and anticipation at the prospect of the week and the tournament ahead. There were a few nerves and more than a little trepidation, a dart out to the barbers [...]
More from Camp…
It’s been an awesome couple of days for the team at the OFC Headquarters – full of good fun, good training, good home-cooked kai and heaps of good people to talk to. Although the training games and exercises have been hard out, there’s also been plenty of opportunity for everyone just to get to know [...]
Training Camp underway
From Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington, players and support staff descended into Auckland this afternoon en masse to begin an intensive 3-day training and team-building camp at the Charles J. Dempsey Academy, Mt. Smart Stadium. The group were given a warm welcome by the Auckland contingent and Oceania Football Confederation General Secretary, Tai Nicholas. The excellent [...]
Feel the love
On Friday members of the NZ selection based in Wellington were given a touching farewell by staff and friends at Downtown Community Ministry who hosted a barbecue to celebrate the occasion. Later in the day there was a huge gathering at the Stillwaters Community for a shared meal and words of encouragement. There’s a real [...]
Emotions high as Mexico announced as 2012 host
Mexico City has been announced as the host of the 2012 Homeless World Cup. HWC President and Co-Founder Mel Young made the announcement to a rapturous crowd of 12000. “No words can really describe what is going on but this movement for change is gathering momentum. It was a real honour to be in Mexico [...]
