Soccer: Pros cough up to help All Whites

Harry Ngata

New Zealand's professional soccer players are coughing up some of their own hard-earned cash in a bid to help the All Whites improve their international performances.

The players, members of the New Zealand Professional Footballers Association (NZPFA), are to contribute a "significant" sum to New Zealand Soccer (NZS) as long as the All Whites compete in five matches to the year ending on June 30.

The All Whites have two matches already lined up against Malaysia this month and NZS chief executive Graham Seatter said the organisation was close to signing off other fixtures.

NZPFA spokesman and former All White Harry Ngata hoped the players' financial commitment would be ongoing.

"Our primary focus is to get our All Whites back in the public eye and to give young kiwi footballers something to aspire to.

"This is a way for our members to assist New Zealand Soccer in achieving that."

Seatter said the players' help would provide much-needed funding for the All Whites.

"The players could have kept the money for themselves but have unselfishly said this is the single most important thing their money should be spent on.

"We're confident of delivering a return on their investment with more high profile games for the All Whites ahead of the Confederations Cup in 2009 and the World Cup in South Africa the following year."

- NZPA