Training Camp
Posted by New Zealand - 10/11/2008
The New Zealand players trained together for the first time at a training camp held at Forest Lakes, Otaki over the first weekend of November.
The weekend started on Friday afternoon when the players from Wellington waited at Wellington airport to meet the Auckland players off the plane. Then as a group we set off up the coast to the beautiful setting of Forest Lakes getting to know one another.
The first evening involved a short kick-about before dark and then the opportunity for everyone to share a little bit about themselves and how they have got involved with Street Football. First thing Saturday morning found the really keen enjoying a warm up run around the grounds while others took a little more encouragement to wake up! As the group enjoyed breakfast we were joined by All Black legend Norm Hewitt and Fifa Oceania Player of the Century, Wynton Rufer. Norm spent over an hour talking to the players about his life as an All Black, some of darker period in his personal life and the honour and pride of playing for his county. Hearing Norm speak got everyone really inspired and motivated – ready for a three hour training session with Wynton. Every player gave 100% and learnt loads from Wynton’s playing and coaching experience – even when their legs were starting to go. The session ended with each player getting a personal gift from Wynton in the form of a football shirt from his playing career in Germany. Even if some of our New Zealand players hadn’t heard of all the different clubs the UK contingent were certainly in awe.
Saturday afternoon was time for most of the group to give their tired bodies a rest from more football. The more adventurous took on the confidence ropes course in the rain, showing many skills of hanging upside down while the rest of the group joined Kim to dig in the Hāngi for the afternoon. Hāngi is a New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using super heated rocks buried in the ground in a pit oven. To "lay a hāngi" involves digging a pit in the ground, heating stones in the pit with a large fire, placing wire baskets of food on top of the stones, and covering everything with earth for several hours before uncovering (or lifting) the hāngi. This combination of steaming, baking and smoking meat and vegetables resulted in a magnificent feast for us to share as a group in the evening. The meal was followed by learning the history and practicing the Haka.
We all woke up to a wonderful sunny Sunday morning and time to see if the group could remember the Haka they learnt the night before – a spectacular sight bringing the team together as one unit ready for any opposition in Melbourne. Following this another good football session was led by Steve Fletcher, Steve has been coaching the Auckland players since May this year and really helped to bring the team together as one and get to grips with the HWC rules! The beautiful weather continued after lunch when the group were invited by Warren Baillie of Outback Experiences to have a go at clay pigeon shooting. Great fun and a new experience for all – Everitt proved he has a sharp eye for the target!
Sadly too soon, the weekend was over… and the group headed back to Wellington to see the Auckland players back on a plane. They won’t meet up again until we are on out way to Melbourne on the 30th November. Street Football Aotearoa would like to thank everyone who helped make the weekend such a success – to the players for all your enthusiasm and willingness to have a go – what a team!; to Jon Lasenby (and family) who organised the weekend and put together the program; to Norm and Wynton for sharing their experiences and wisdom with us; to Kim and Sharon for the Hangi and passing on the Haka – bringing the team strength and prowess; to Warren for welcoming the team into your Woolshed; and finally to our awesome group of supporters – Steve, Steve, Sam, Rhys, Tosh and Tom whose tireless commitment and effort has made things happen.
Katie Owen
