Back by popular demand Football World Cup fever, on a youthful scale, is set to grip Otumoetai today.
Today will see Fergusson Park transform into the field of dreams as more than 450 aspiring footballers from across the upper North Island chase Otumoetai Football Club Junior World Cup glory.
Otumoetai Football Club members are all colour and determination ahead of the OFC Junior World Cup Tournament. Photo by Tracy Hardy.
Heading into its second year, the event mirrors the fierce competition on the global stage – 2014's FIFA Football World Cup in Brazil and this year's FIFA Under 20 Football World Cup held right here in New Zealand.
Tournament director Gillian Carter is excited, predicting another colourfully competitive days action from 40 sides, with clubs coming from as far field as Auckland, Hamilton and Cambridge.
'We've got teams from Three Kings, Hibiscus Coast and East Coast Bays in Auckland, Hamilton North and Hukanui, and Cambridge.
'While the Bay of Plenty will be represented by Otumoetai, Papamoa, Waipuna, and Mount Maunganui.”
Split into Grades 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12/13, pools of eight will square off in matches of 15 minutes each way, with the top two from each pool heading trophy to the play-off stage.
The 12 to 13-year-old division is a new addition to the booming tournament with organisers having to turn people away, says Gillian.
Otumoetai will field 10 teams spread across the five divisions – hopeful of keeping the ‘world cup' in the BOP's grasp.
Getting into the ‘festival of football' feel each team entered will be named after a nation featuring in the FIFA U20 World Cup, and will compete in that nation's colours.
But with only 24 nations competing a handful of ‘wannabe' nations have been added to make up the 40 slots – causing some head scratching by players, says Gillian.
'One of the teams has got Mali and they are asking: ‘Where is Mali?'. So they're getting on the internet and having to look up their country.”
There will be a free bouncy castle and the FIFA U20 World Cup inflatable goal to try out with former All White goalkeeper James Bannatyne.
Prizes for the best-dressed team along with tournament prizes and giveaways will be handed out also.
Otumoetai Football Club Junior World Cup Tournament matches start 9am today.
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