Coach's patience and effort get Te Hoka on the field

Te Hoka Wanikau, 7.

A 7-year-old Turangi boy who suffers from a number of physical disabilities has defied the odds and played his first game of soccer this season thanks to the efforts of the team coach and his parents.

Te Hoka Wanikau has a rare non-progressive condition which was diagnosed when he was 4. Worster-Drought syndrome is a type of cerebral palsy which affects speech, swallowing, chewing, hearing and learning ability. He also has generalised ligament laxity, meaning his joints are loose and easily dislocated.

Te Hoka Wanikau, 7, pictured with Turangi Soccer Club coach Mark Allen.

He is unable to play contact sport like rugby or rugby league, and has ADHD which affects his ability to concentrate, listen, and stay on task.

His parents Ardie and Irena Wanikau have concentrated their efforts on finding sports he can get involved with.

"We knew we had to get him into a sport because his cousins all play league and his friends play rugby and he was really keen to do something," said Mrs Wanikau.

Te Hoka has been a member of the local swimming club for the past year and a half which Mrs Wanikau said had proved really beneficial.

She said the patience and perseverance of Turangi Soccer Club coach Mark Allen had also enabled their son to train with players alongside his sister for the last season and a half.

This culminated in Te Hoka taking the field with the Turangi Tornados grade 9 side for a short run during a game at the end of May. Since then the youngster has graduated to playing nearly full-length games.

Mrs Wanikau said they never thought their son would get the chance to play in a match and were extremely grateful to Mr Allen.

"It's been beyond all our expectations. We feel very lucky to have found a sport where the coach is so understanding and accepting of his needs, especially since our choice of sports are limited.

"We know that if it wasn't for Mark's guiding support of our son, we wouldn't be involved with soccer any more and feel very fortunate to now have Hoka involved in two sports here in Turangi."

She said members of a Worster-Drought syndrome support group in the United Kingdom with whom they stayed in regular contact were blown away by their son's sporting achievements.

"They can't believe the progress our boy is making."

Mrs Wanikau said they were determined to continue looking at all sporting opportunities for Te Hoka.