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Since David Gallop announced that the A-League had begun a new process of expansion much has been talked about which cities would benefit from the granting of a new license.
To the names of Brisbane, Canberra or Tasmania has also been added in the last time Auckland.
Many are the ones that have asked that New Zealand have a new team in A-League. Even, and not without reason, it has been said that Auckland City FC should be the chosen club.
A few days ago Ivan Vuksich, chairman of the Navy Blues, informed AAP that the club had started the process to formalise an offer to the FFA.
The current OFC Champions League champion has plenty of grounds to gain access to a license. The team has been successful not only domestically but also internationally.
With 18 official titles in only twelve years of life Auckland is, with Wellington Phoenix, the largest representative of New Zealand football in the world. And they reached the third place in the 2014 edition of FIFA Club World Cup.
No one could object to the FFA if they finally decide to choose Auckland City as a new A-League franchise. But there is a question that underlies this issue.
What would be more beneficial for New Zealander football? A new team in the A-League or the establishment of a professional league?
We could even go further and ask ourselves: Should New Zealand imitate the example of Australia and leave the OFC to compete under the umbrella of the Asian Football Conference?
These questions have been formulated several times by many journalists and fans. The author has spoken of this issue with a former player of New Zealander domestic league.
The Argentine Santiago Falbo, who played at Waitakere United, thinks that leaving the OFC would undermine New Zealand chances of entering in the final phase of the World Cup.
The competition in Asia is much tougher, with teams like Japan, Korea or Australia with a major tour in the world of football. In Falbos’ opinion would be difficult for New Zealand to leave the OFC.
What the Argentine player says is true. But it is also true that if New Zealand moves to the Asian confederation, it can face rivals who could easily dispute the group stage of the World Cup.
Facing Japan, or Saudi Arabia is not the same as doing it to American Samoa or Vanuatu.
As for the question of establishing a professional league, the task should be addressed as soon as possible. The current system of a semi-professional competition does not guarantee the correct development of the sport.
The domestic league has grown a lot in recent times. New teams like Tasman United and Eastern Suburbs have joined the competition, the latter with great success. Even the level of several teams has improved.
Last season Team Wellington was crowned champion for the first time in history, breaking the dominance of Waitakere United and Auckland City.
Day by day the number of foreign players that militate in the domestic league of New Zealand increases and that has a positive repercussion in the growth of the football culture of the country.
These lines seek to be a trigger for discussion. It is important that all parts involved in New Zealand football participate in this discussion.
In a hyper-professionalised sport such as football, you should always look beyond the next season.
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