In the Antipodes, the performance of Wellington Phoenix has surprised many, and led to a greater interest in the game in New Zealand. But many seem to have forgotten a key point; that Australia is now playing under the care and management of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Australia’s move to the AFC has seen football develop in many ways. A New Zealand based team, either the now defunct NZ Knights or the current Wellington Phoenix, have come along for the ride of Australian football’s professional redevelopment via the A-League.
With New Zealand making the 2010 World Cup, and the Wellington Phoenix making headway in the A-League, has the ultimate irony come from New Zealand, in that it can be seen to be able to look after its own football needs? If you read some media reports, it appears that AFC President Mohammad Bin Hamman is of this view.
Mr Bin Hamman has been vocal of Wellington’s involvement in the A-League, and if Wellington continues to do well, they technically could be eligible for the Asian Champions League, something which would clearly not please Bin Hamman.
So my question is, will the success of the Wellington Phoenix, and the New Zealand national team itself, be its greatest downfall internationally? Will others, particularly within Asian football circles, see New Zealand’s success as a chance to say, “If you’re good enough, you can look after yourself now?”
Wayno
Guest
Cut em loose I say, If soccer in Australia is really enjoying the kind of growth all of the pundits on here are claiming it shouldn't be a problem replacing them with an equivalent or better supported Australian side. Plenty of Kiwis get on here and bemoan the dilution of their own domestic comps, here's a chance to nurture their own.
Burto
Guest
FFA should back the Phoenix all the way. Very unlikely that the NZ public would support a higher profile national comp with very little interest in the current NZFC.
The Fun Cool Man
Roar Rookie
ML I think the comment about Australia being part of the Asian Football Confederation was slanted more towards an Australian spectator's perspective about the whole situation, but thanks for the comment from your end though. FCM
Zack
Guest
If 35,000 people can come to watch Phoenix how come it is not possble esp after qualifying for the World cup. If the NZ FA get their act together then it should be possible. It might be difficult in the begining but in the long term It sould succeed. When the A-league started there were lot of skeptics.
Gibbo
Guest
maybe the asians, much like the south africans might do with the 'all whites' at the WC, are taking offence at their 'yellow fever' nickname?
Sam
Guest
NZ has its own league, called the NZ Football Championship. It's not very big though, small crowds, and although gets a bit of media coverage it's never going to be viable as a fully professional competition.
David V.
Guest
Abolish the OFC or merge it into a sub-confederation of Asia.
Zack
Guest
With the world cup money to be received from FIFA they should use to establish their league. The game is gaining massive interest in NZ. When the world cup comes it will get even bigger. This is the right time to capitalise on this momentum.
Bevan
Guest
NZ cannot support a professional league; we still need to be in the A-League. There are not enough quality domestic players; in fact it is doubtful whether a second NZ team could compete as well as the Nix do. Trans-tasman club competitions are already standard in Rugby, netball, basketball and rugby league, so let's keep the A-League as it is.
ML
Guest
Pretty daft proposition. If the Phoneix were crap and nobody was interested in them, they might (stress might) fly under the AFC radar, but they would be doing nothing for the FFA (who'd have no reason to keep them) and they'd be doing nothing for the game in NZ. Success has made them valuable to the FFA and has rallied support for the franchise in Australia - hence strengthening its future. THe success of the club has highlighted the AFC's position but it has not weakened the Phoenix place in the ALeague, quite the contrary in fact. And regarding your first para, you are wrong. THe NZ media and NZ football public are hghly conscious of the the fact Australia is part of Asia. This has certainly not been forgotten. Start again.
Midfielder
Guest
Good question ... can only hope not... l
Simon Smith
Guest
A grab from a Michael Cockerill article in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning: In other news, FFA sources have indicated that no decision on whether Wellington are eligible for the Asian Champions League will be be made until after the season. Looks like the FFA are refusing to make any decision about this.