Rotorua footballer scores place in Olympics

Rotorua footballer Adam McGeorge is flying high in more ways than one.

When The Daily Post caught up with the 23-year-old, he was jumping on a plane and jetting his way to London with the Oly Whites football squad to compete at the London Olympic Games.

"I absolutely can't wait. It's just starting to sink in now. It's been a goal for me for the last two or three years and for it to finally come through it's been awesome."

McGeorge, a midfielder for Auckland City, said it was a "massive honour" to get the call up to represent New Zealand as an All White and as an Olympian.

"The last couple of months has been great, like getting the All Whites call up as well was a massive honour and that's just kind of spurred me on even more to really dig deep and try and qualify [the team] for the World Cup again like the boys did in South Africa."

Along with McGeorge, New Zealand Olympic coach Neil Emblen has been able to call on a wealth of All Whites experience including captain Ryan Nelsen, Shane Smeltz and Michael McGlinchey who are the three over-age players allowed for the otherwise under-23 tournament.

McGeorge said the 18-man Olympic squad was to play three pre-tournament games against Olympic sides - against Japan yesterday, South Korea on Saturday and United Arab Emirates on Thursday next week before they reach London. The team's first Group C match against Belarus is on July 26. They play Egypt on July 29 and Brazil on August 1.

The former Rotorua Boys' High School student said playing on the world stage was a far cry from a 4-year-old playing for Otonga Football Club.

"I started as a young fulla playing at 4. I played lots of sports as a kid, from rugby, waterpolo, athletics, swimming, I kind of did everything but then, I kind of had to make the decision to pick one and football was it."

McGeorge said he was determined to do the best job possible and if that led to an overseas contract, that was a bonus.

"I'm just kind of leaving the options open during the Olympics and kind of hoping I've got a few people looking at me and hopefully pick something up over there or Australia. But I'd be happy to stay at Auckland City as well, because we've got the Club World Cup in December in Japan."

The midfielder said the team was confident of their abilities and doing well at the games.

"We've kind of set a goal of making it out of the group stages. I think with the team we've got with 13 All Whites in an under-23 side we have a good chance," McGeorge said.

"We're realistic about it but the boys are targeting those first two games against Belarus and Egypt to pick up points."