New Zealand Football (NZF) and the Wellington Phoenix have confirmed a talent development partnership to support the growth of Kiwi players.
The partnership, which is supported by FIFA, will see NZF and the Phoenix collaborating on a talent development system to maximise the impact of both parties’ resources.
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It aligns the NZF High Performance and Talent Development Plan to support New Zealand’s best football talent.
Included in the partnership is NZF supporting scholarship positions at the Phoenix Academy for Kiwi talent, and steps to align the development pathway for players from the domestic game to the A-Leagues and beyond.
NZF are also in discussions on a talent development partnership with Auckland FC that would further strengthen talent development across the country.
NZF CEO Andrew Pragnell highlighted the opportunities the new partnership would create to benefit football in New Zealand.
“Wellington Phoenix have a critical role to play in talent development in the player pathway and have an established record of successfully supporting players to become professional footballers, transferring them into top flight clubs around the world as well as producing All Whites and Football Ferns.
“Following the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year, football is exploding, our community club network are doing a great job in player development and our development pathway is continuing to evolve, so it is really important that we have an aligned approach across the country to support the next generation of Kiwi talent.
“With two A-League clubs now in New Zealand, there is an opportunity to ensure our professional academies are accessible and present the best opportunities towards a professional pathway for talented young players.
“The NZF-Phoenix partnership in creating the first ever women’s professional team was ground-breaking, so it’s very exciting to now move forward with this collaboration that will allow New Zealand Football and the Phoenix to really maximise both of our resources and ensure we support each other for the benefit of New Zealand talent.”
Phoenix general manager David Dome was in high praise of the agreement.
“We believe this partnership will be a game-changer for the development of young footballers,” Dome said.
“Through the investment of our owners the Phoenix academy has gone from strength-to-strength and is setting the standard for youth development in New Zealand, with graduates now playing in the world’s top leagues.
“With the support of New Zealand Football and FIFA, we believe we can take the academy to a whole new level and will help more young footballers realise their dreams of playing professionally.”
The partnership was agreed for an initial two-year term and comes into effect immediately.
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