Harry Ngata: Football derbies stir emotions

The 'Super City' derby between Auckland City and Waitakere United is growing into a great rivalry. Photo / Sarah Ivey

For me you can't beat derby football. The obvious teams spring to the forefront of ones mind. Liverpool and Everton, Man Utd and Man City, Inter and AC Milan to name a few.

They all stir that raw emotion that is often passed through generation to generation who are bought up to loathe the cross town colours. It's a way of life for some. A life that exists for their beloved football club.

In what has been dubbed the 'Super City' derby, Auckland City dispatched league leaders Waitakere United 1-0 in their round 11 clash of the ASB Premiership last weekend.

It was a fiercely contested battle with referee Campbell-Kirk Waugh dishing out three red cards with Auckland City finishing the game with nine players.

Cross town derbies have a knack of bringing out the dog in players that are passionately determined to get one up on their mates. For long periods of the game Auckland dictated the tempo and looked more composed than their rivals.

Perhaps that's the influence of Spanish co coach Ramon Tribulietx who has also attracted a more Latin type of player to the Sandringham club. Waitakere United certainly deserve their spot on top of the pile. It was their first defeat of the season after eight straight victories and whilst this minor hiccup will reinvigorate the chasing bunch the minor premiership is Waitakere's to lose. As a football experience I came away from that game genuinely impressed. The game itself had it's moments of madness and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The pitch looked fantastic and must be so inviting as a player. The weather conditions while leaning toward the rather hot side were perfect.

The beer flowed from the beer tent in the shade, kids were able to kick the ball around on the adjacent training pitch and the hard out analysts on the side line debated and theorized every pass, shot or referee decision.

Waitakere is a club steeped in pride and tradition. Those in the know know how hard people have worked over the years to maintain a level of excellence both on and off the pitch. A club that when it was formed way back in my day very quickly became used to winning.

I remember many a game for North Shore at Fred Taylor Park. We not always got the desired result but nonetheless the crowd witnessed a derby match similar to that of 2011. Playing at Kiwitea Street was another kettle of fish. You not only had to deal with the quality of football on the park but let's just say blood was boiling at times in the terraces too.

I loved playing at that ground because of this environment and really looked forward to the North Shore v Central United derby like a kid at Christmas time.

The crowd was so close they could touch you and the pitch at that time was by far the best in the land. I think I was tripped a couple of times by a discrete leg from behind the white railed fence on the odd occasion. Win or lose the hospitality afterwards was like an experience at Uncle Vino's bistro. Absolutely gut busting is all I can say.

Off the park credit must be given to both clubs. Both are managed as professionally as they can within the obvious restraints and experiences at previous Club World Cups have benefitted every national league club financially.

On the park both clubs have some very exciting young talent that nurtured through the right environment and development can really propel their game through the national league and potentially further.