Te Puna link for Young All White

The Young All Whites open their campaign at the under-17 soccer World Cup next Sunday and centre back Reece Lambert is sure to be in the thick of the action. A standout during the side's build-up, Lambert has a strong whanau fan-base in Te Puna, as Martin Lang writes
The grandstands at Torreon, Mexico, will be buzzing but when the New Zealand under-17 side takes the field against Uzbekistan on June 19, there'll be no keener spectators than at a gathering of the Bidois whanau in Te Puna.
Clustered around the TV, Dean and Hinemoa Lambert will have family members aplenty alongside to help cheer on their son Reece, as the 17-year-old takes his game to the ultimate arena.
A central figure in the team since the initial squad late last year, Lambert was named by the side's then-coach Steve Cain as one of the three standouts during a four-match trip to Qatar's world-class Aspire Academy in March.
Raised in Auckland and a student at the city's Sacred Heart College, Lambert's inclusion in the national under-17 team follows regular inclusion in Auckland age-group sides from age 12. .
While he has grown up in the Queen City, the amiable teenager has close ties with Te Puna, particularly the Pirirakau hapu of Ngati Ranginui, through mum Hinemoa and her Bidois whanau. He is also of Ngati Kahu descent, strengthening his connection with the Te Puna and Wairoa River areas.
Sadly, one of the youngster's closest family members will not be with the whanau to enjoy the broadcast of his World Cup debut - his grandmother Rita Smith (nee Bidois), who died 18 months ago.
"She was my biggest fan, my biggest supporter," Lambert told the Bay Times during a visit to whanau in Te Puna last weekend.
"She lived with dad, mum and I in Manukau and used to come to all my games, she only missed one if she was sick.
"I think about her when I play and I'll be thinking about her when I play at the World Cup.
"She didn't just help me with sport but with schoolwork, everything.
"She always thought I'd have the chance to play overseas."
Mrs Smith is buried in the urupa at Pirirakau's Tutereinga marae. Mum Hinemoa and her family have scheduled their big annual get-together to include the live broadcast of the New Zealand team's opening clash.
Weighing up university study next year against chances of a career in the Beautiful Game, Lambert said the chance to test himself at the highest level is "a huge bonus".
"This is bigger than anything so far for me. It's cool to know that some of the players who'll be there will be among the world's best in a few years.
"It's a great feeling that so many people are watching you. I remember watching a mate, Thomas Spragg, playing in the 2009 [under-17] World Cup in Algeria and thinking I wouldn't make the New Zealand team at that age 'cause I wasn't that good."
Does the prospect of playing under the gaze of tens of thousands of football-mad spectators faze him?
"I've seen pictures of some of the stadiums we'll be playing in in Mexico, they're world-class and there may be crowds of about 40,000. I'll be quite nervous but once the games start I'll be good. I can't wait to play."
Following the match against Uzbekistan, New Zealand's group D draw sees them play the Czech Republic on June 22 and the US on June 25, the US game to be played at Pachuca. Switzerland are defending champions, while Mexico will be strong contenders on their home turf.
Coached since April by Aaron McFarland, the New Zealand contingent flew out for the US yesterday, where they'll warm up and acclimatise with two games against the Rwanda under-17 side in Arizona.
Squad
Goalkeepers: 1-Scott Basalaj (Lower Hutt City), 20-Scott Armistead (Waitakere City), 21-Liam Anderson (Forrest Hill Milford).
Defenders: 2-Harshae Raniga (Central United), 4-Reece Lambert (Central United), 5-Luke Adams (Waitakere City/captain), 16-Bill Tuiloma (Asia Pacific FA).
Midfielders: 3-Stephen Carmichael (Central United), 6-Jesse Edge (Melville United), 7-Kip Colvey (Asia Pacific FA), 8-Rhys Jordan (Forrest Hill United), 12-Jordan Vale (Waitakere City), 13-Cameron Martin (Central United), 17-Harley Tahau (Asia Pacific FA), 18-Calvin Opperman (Asia Pacific FA).
Forwards: 9-Tim Payne (Waitakere City), 10-Cameron Howieson (Asia Pacific FA), 11-James Debenham (Forrest Hill Milford), 14-Ryan Howlett (Waitakere City), 15-Dylan Stansfield (Forest Hill Milford), 19-Ken Yamamoto (Canterbury United).