Football enthusiasts have a chance to get up close and personal with New Zealand's leading coach, Ricki Herbert, in Tauranga this week.
Mr Herbert will speak at Baypark Conference Centre tomorrow night about his successes. It will be his only public-speaking engagement in the Bay.
The audience will hear about the All
Whites' World Cup campaign, plus stories of his playing career and coaching involvement with the Wellington Phoenix.
The Papamoa Football Club-hosted event has had a slow response from the public, but president Barbara Caie still hopes for a strong attendance. Little more than 75 tickets have sold.
"We're a little disappointed by the response from the local community ... when we went around the local clubs there was a lot of interest but that clearly hasn't materialised. Everyone's telling me it's just 'last-minute Tauranga' and we have to hope interest and ticket sales pick up," Ms Caie said.
Money raised would go towards the Papamoa Football Club.
Mr Herbert waived part of his appearance fee, which meant a larger percentage of cash raised would go to the club and an upgrade of the lights at Gordon Spratt Reserve.
The lights went up seven or eight years ago and technology had since improved, Ms Caie said.
The Tauranga City Council had recently upgraded the fields and the club wanted to improve the lights to match their new facilities.
"Nowadays the football calendar is rapidly filling up and if you can stage games at night that will alleviate some scheduling problems, especially if a game is postponed or can't be played for whatever reason," she said.
The upgrade was expected to cost up to $150,000 and Ms Caie believed the club would need to meet at least a third of that.
She said Mr Herbert was a mentor to many football fans, players and sports enthusiasts. The evening was not to be missed, and such an event would "probably never happen again in Tauranga".
"We realise the football community is not rich and the price we are charging is reasonable for the whole family. All the kids know who he is and it would be great night out.
"Due to his success it could appeal to other sports codes, even if it's because they want tips on how he's done [so well]."
Ms Caie thanked Planwise, which had picked up the club's costs for the visit.
Tickets are available from Westpac branches or contact papamoafootball@hotmail.com. Corporate tables available. For more information, contact papamoafootball@hotmail.com or visit www.papamoafootball.co.nz
FOOTBALL: Herbert gives inside story
Football enthusiasts have a chance to get up close and personal with New Zealand's leading coach, Ricki Herbert, in Tauranga this week.
Mr Herbert will speak at Baypark Conference Centre tomorrow night about his successes. It will be his only public-speaking engagement in the Bay.
The audience will hear about the All
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