Wellington Phoenix’s Tim Brown celebrates after scoring against Melbourne Victory during their round 6 match, played at the Ethihad stadium in Melbourne, Sunday, Sept 13, 2009. Phoenix drew the match with Victory 1-1 after full time.(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
I’ve been amazed by the football noise that’s been coming out of New Zealand over recent weeks. While I suppose it all started with that fateful match against Bahrain in November, since almost 20,000 fans stumped up in Christchurch to see the Phoenix defeat Adelaide United 1-0 almost four weeks ago, I’ve started to believe.
Not that Wellington Phoenix is capable of winning the Grand Final (despite Paul Ifil’s best efforts, I still find them one of the league’s least enjoyable teams to watch), but that the game in New Zealand is at a crucial point.
In truth, despite the national team qualifying for the World Cup, the Under 17 side finding success in Nigeria and the Phoenix’s debut finals appearance, New Zealand football hasn’t achieved anything that will ensure its long-term success yet.
The point, though, is that the game is now in a position to do so.
This momentum needs to be seized upon and New Zealand Football must form a long-term plan to galvanise the game at grassroots, club and national team level. Whether this involves Asia or not is a debatable point (though I think it does).
The key is going to be Wellington Phoenix.
A national team alone can’t secure a game’s future in any country. Look at South Korea or even the Socceroos as an example.
The regular football, sustained presence, and potential for success the Phoenix offer, however, could give the game some crucial leverage.
Unfortunately dark clouds still hang above the Phoenix’s future, thanks to the unnecessary license demands of Asian Football Confederation President, Mohammod Bin Hammam.
While on the pitch there isn’t yet a lot for Wellington to offer Asia, off it there certainly is.
I sat among a pitiful 4,983 people at Seongnam’s Tancheon Stadium who had paid between 5 and 11 Australian dollars to see Sasa Ognenovski’s Seongnam defeat Kawasaki Frontale 2-0. Scan the other crowd figures from this week’s Asian Champions League openers and, outside of China, attendances were similar.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix have already sold 25,000 tickets to Sunday week’s game against Newcastle.
Bin Hammam’s comments to The World Game yesterday that he’d like, “all Asia to stand behind one bid,” have me worried that Football Federation Australia might be willing to trade off the Phoenix’s integrity for a shot at winning the hosting rights to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Not only would it be morally wrong, it would be a mistake for the A-League.
In a season where the two new clubs have both struggled off the pitch, North Queensland financially and Gold Coast in the stands, Wellington Phoenix are the only really good story to come out of season 5.
Organised in a few haphazard months before the 2007/08 season, the Phoenix have slowly built themselves up off and on the pitch. The A-League is better off because the ‘Nix’s contribution and FFA must acknowledge this by sorting out their future now.
My message for Wellington Phoenix, meanwhile, is to learn from Melbourne Victory’s mistakes. Their story this season reminds me of Melbourne’s phenomenal rise in season 2 of the A-League.
12 months later, the Victory had let itself down on the pitch and even more alarmingly left many of its fans with a sense of betrayal off it. Melbourne’s crowds, while still good, haven’t been the same since then.
So Wellington, cherish your fans. They are the reason your club deserves its place within the A-League.
jake
Roar Rookie
And we just won the game 3-1 atmosphere was electric!
Phutbol
Guest
What is this French team in the S-League? surely that would be a precedent to allow WP to continue in the A-league? Is the French team actually 'French' or is it French expats? ie is it a UEFA club playing in an AFC comp?
MV Dave
Guest
WP match vs Jets is all but sold out and still a week to go before the game...well done football fans of Wellington and NZ.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
It is an interesting link and a good look at a different point of view. Thanks for providing the link.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Thanks for providing everyone with the link AA. I'm grinding my teeth to say the least...
AA
Guest
I just came across this on the Aust. FourFourTwo forums, hmmm http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/3384812/Aussie-bosses-snub-Bledisloe-style-clash Ben, Most of my points have been raised above, the relationship at the moment (football wise) seems to be too one-way. That view may change if Durante and McKain play on Wednesday night and put in a good performance.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Perhaps if you could articulate some reasons as to why Wellington are bad for the league it may assist. Otherwise it feels as if we have wandered into a round ball version of Monty Python's Argument Clinic. Or possibly you are trying to sell us a dead parrot. Is the idea of a viable and vibrant A-League without the Phoenix really a dead Norwegian Blue, or is the concept merely pining for the fjords? Articulate, young man, articulate.
AA
Guest
Right, So based on Axel V's comments (and a few others on here)the REAL reason that Wellington is 'good for the game' because they bring in MONEY to the FFA (and from that, the A-League). Read above, Bahrain has oil and therefore is 'good for the game'. That's hippocritical, and against the FIFA philosophy of football development being 'for the good for the game'. Most of you have mentioned that money is the main reason they are in the league. I've seen enough now.
Axel V
Guest
There shouldn't even be a debate Wellington Phoenix help Australia and Australia help Wellington Phoenix, most importantly Wellington Phoenix helps New Zealand which helps Oceania! Everybody wins! except Bahrain whose players are from Nigeria, Maldives, Chad or whatever, but anyway....where was I?...oh yeah....my point is that Bahrain has oil and that is good for the game!
Punter
Guest
Yes, that Branko's 2 cents, that's all it is, one person's opinion,I for one am very happy to have Wellingtong in the A-League.
Midfielder
Guest
NZ provide another 4.2 million people to watch the A-League ... this brings dollars to FFA ... The Nix are a well run, have funding and a great HE... they should stay..
MVFC Lover
Guest
Ben, I think that Branko was referring to the NZ side's inclusion in the A-League, and not to the game next week.
AA
Guest
I have lots of constructive things to say and if you don't like what I say then don't reply. I'm not on here to win your support Ora.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Branko lining up his excuses nice and early. It's going to be quite an intimidating journey for the Jets.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
Yes you can't help but worry that New Zealand Football will say "things are going well at the moment, clearly nothing needs to change" when the opposite is true. Its because things are going so well and that there is such momentum behind the game that change, with the long term future of the game in mind, needs to come. Johnny Warren famously said that "It’s time (Australians) stopped dreaming of qualifying for the World Cup. It’s time we dreamed of winning it." Well New Zealand needs to start dreaming of not just qualifying for World Cups and dream of regularly being competitive when they get there. I don't see that happening with things as they are.
AA
Guest
Conversely Davidde the new supporters don't necessarily always bring fresh, good ideas to the table though. We could discuss that all day, but that comment is purely subjective.
AA
Guest
Branko Culina has added his 2 cents worth to the story... http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/kiwis-are-sleeping-a-league-giants/story-e6frey4r-1225834891739 But regarding the long-term future of Wellington in the A-League, he said: "They have become very competitive now and we have to be careful that they don't become New Zealand's national team. "They already have five national team players. "Those players are also lucky enough to gain experience in World Cup qualifiers, unlike a lot of the boys playing in the A-League. "We want a strong league and Wellington are good value. That doesn't mean to say I agree with them being in our competition.
Ora
Guest
You've absolutely lost the plot AA, you have nothing constructive at all to say and you bite every time. You comment like a child so I will treat you like a child. Now I hope you packed your felt tips and colouring books away and have a lovely weekend.
Ora
Guest
The whole country is buzzing with anticipation, the Phoenix and All Whites have ignited something here in Aotearoa. The A-League has been getting huge coverage. The FFA will be smiling along with the entire country of New Zealand. It's amazing how Wellington has managed to galvanize a nation yet Auckland failed so miserably. The FFA knows that the Phoenix are much bigger than 350k population base, this team taps into the pysche of the whole nation.
MV Dave
Guest
Reported this morning that just over 2,000 tickets remaining for Jets game next weekend...could be a ground record crowd as well as a NZ football record. Meanwhile almost 15,000 tickets pre sold for SFC v MV, so again looking at over 30,000. Who wanted the finals given the boot??