Nine Gisborne players joining Central’s age-group campaign

OFF TO THE AGE-GROUP CHAMPS: Gisborne footballers Regan Cameron, Adam Simpson, Jet Koll, Ian Cutler, Brooke Bennett, Lily-Mae Auckram, Rubi Perano and Jack Faulkner with Gisborne women’s development officer Lizzie Hall (second from right) who will co-coach the Central Federation u14 team. Picture by Liam Clayton

NINE Gisborne footballers will fly the local flag when the annual national age-group tournament starts on Thursday in Wellington.

The players representing the Central Federation, are — Lily-Mae Auckram and Rubi Perano (under-14 girls) Brooke Bennett (u15/16 girls) Jett Koll, Leo Crockett and Adam Simpson (u14 boys), Regan Cameron and Ian Cutler (u15 boys) and Jack Faulkner (u16 boys).

Gisborne women’s development officer Lizzie Hall will co-coach the U14 girls.

“I would have liked to have had more but we’ll take nine at this stage,” said Blake Mulrooney, Gisborne’s Central Football development officer.

“It’s a great chance for them to be spotted by national age-group selectors.

Mulrooney said the tournament, organised by Capital Football (Wellington) and New Zealand Football, began in 2014 to give age-group teams the opportunity to compete against the other six federations from across the country.

“Central were the inaugural winners of the tournament, which takes into account the results of all the age-groups to find a champion federation.”

Mulrooney said the tournament was extended in 2016 to cater for another two age-groups and is now competed for by age 16 boys (born 2001), 15yr boys (2002) and 14yr boys (2003) along with a combined 15/16yr girls (2001/02) and 14yr girls (2003).

“Each team will play six games, against Northern Football, Auckland Football, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Capital, Mainland (Canterbury) and Southern Federations, with the final games on December 17.

“Players from all five regions across the Central Federation — Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Whanganui and Taranaki ­— make up the Central teams, with Central Football development staff coaching the squads.

A fantastic four days of footballCentral Football’s football development manager Brett Angell said the tournament gave players “a fantastic opportunity to experience a high level of competition against the best in their age group from across the country”.

“It’s a chance for us to see where our players sit in comparison to their peers from the other federations.

“It’s a fantastic four days of tough and competitive football, and I’m sure they will all make the most of and enjoy the experience”.